142
EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION PARAMETERS ON INTRACELLULAR REACTION RATE DISTRIBUTION IN BETA-LACTAMASE PRODUCTION BY Bacillus SPECIES A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES OF THE MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BY MÜGE ARİFOĞLU IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AUGUST 2004

EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

  • Upload
    buibao

  • View
    224

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION PARAMETERS ON INTRACELLULAR REACTION RATE DISTRIBUTION IN BETA-LACTAMASE PRODUCTION BY Bacillus SPECIES

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES

OF THE MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

BY

MÜGE ARİFOĞLU

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR

THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

AUGUST 2004

Page 2: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

Approval of the Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences

Prof. Dr. Canan Özgen

Director

I certify that this thesis satisfies all the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science.

Prof. Dr. Timur Doğu Head of Department

This is to certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis and for the degree of Master of Science.

Prof. Dr. Güzide Çalık Co-Supervisor

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Çalık

Supervisor

Examining Committee Members

Prof. Dr. Türker Gürkan (METU, CHE)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Çalık (METU, CHE)

Prof. Dr. Güzide Çalık (Ankara Univ., CHE)

Prof. Dr. H. Tunçer Özdamar (Ankara Univ., CHE)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nihal Aydoğan (Hacettepe Univ., CHE)

Page 3: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

iii

I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not original to this work. Name, Last name : Müge Arifoğlu

Signature :

Page 4: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

iv

ABSTRACT

EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION PARAMETERS ON

INTRACELLULAR REACTION RATE DISTRIBUTION IN

BETA-LACTAMASE PRODUCTION BY Bacillus SPECIES

Arifoğlu, Müge

M.S., Department of Chemical Engineering

Supervisor: Assoc. Dr. Pınar Çalık

Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Güzide Çalık

August 2004, 120 pages

In this study, the effects of oxygen transfer (OT) on β-lactamase

production and on intracellular reaction rates were investigated with Bacillus

licheniformis ATCC 2597. In order to clarify the oxygen transfer effects on the

production of β-lactamase, firstly a glucose based defined medium was designed

and using this medium, the effects of bioreactor operation parameters, i.e., pH

and temperature, on β-lactamase activity and cell formation were investigated in

laboratory scale batch-bioreactors using shake bioreactors having V=33 ml

working volumes. Among the investigated bioprocess conditions, the highest β-

lactamase activity was obtained as A=115 U cm-3, in the medium with 7.0 kg m-3

glucose, 7.1 kg m-3 (NH4)2HPO4 and the salt solution, at pH0=7.5, T=37°C,

N=200 min-1. At the optimum conditions found in laboratory scale the effects of

OT on cell generation, substrate consumption, product (β-lactamase) and by-

products formations were investigated at three different air inlet (Q0/ VR = 0.2,

0.5 and 1 vvm) and at three agitation rates (N=250, 500, 750 min-1) in V = 3.0

dm3 batch bioreactors consisting of temperature, pH, foam, stirring rate and

dissolved oxygen controls. Along with the fermentation, cell, substrate and by-

product concentrations, β-lactamase activity, yield coefficients, specific rates,

Page 5: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

v

oxygen uptake rates and the liquid phase mass transfer coefficient values were

determined. The highest β-lactamase activity was obtained at 0.5 vvm 500 min-1

and at 0.2 vvm 500 min-1 conditions as ca. A=90 U cm-3 while the highest cell

concentration was obtained as Cx=0.67 kg m-3 at 0.5 vvm 750 min-1 and at 0.2

vvm 750 min-1 conditions. KLa, increased with the increase in the agitation and

aeration rates and its values varied between 0.007-0.044 s-1 and oxygen uptake

rate varied between 0.4-1.6 mol m-3 s-1. Finally, the influence of OT conditions on

the intracellular reaction rates was investigated using metabolic flux analysis to

evaluate the effects of oxygen on the metabolism.

Keywords: β-lactamase, production, Bacillus, oxygen transfer, metabolic flux

analysis

Page 6: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

vi

ÖZ

Bacillus TÜRLERİ İLE BETA-LAKTAMAZ ÜRETİMİNDE

BİYOREAKTÖR İŞLETİM PARAMETRELERİNİN HÜCRE İÇİ

TEPKİME HIZ DAĞILIMLARINA ETKİLERİ

Arifoğlu, Müge

Yüksek Lisans, Kimya Mühendisliği Bölümü

Tez Yöneticisi: Doç. Dr. Pınar Çalık

Ortak Tez Yöneticisi: Prof. Dr. Güzide Çalık

Ağustos 2004, 120 sayfa

Bu çalışmada, Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 25972 ile oksijen aktarımının β-

laktamaz üretimine ve hücreiçi tepkime hızlarına etkisi araştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla

önce glukoz temelli tanımlanmış ortam tasarımı yapılmış ve tasarlanan bu üretim

ortamı kullanılarak biyoproses işletim parametrelerinden pH ve sıcaklığın β-

laktamaz üretimine ve hücre oluşumuna etkileri, laboratuvar ölçekli, V=33 ml

çalışma hacımlı kesikli biyoreaktörler kullanılarak araştırılmıştır. En yüksek

aktivite, 7.0 kg m-3 glukoz, 7.1 kg m-3 (NH4)2HPO4, ve tuz çözeltisini içeren

ortamda, pH0=7.5, T=37°C, N=200 dk-1 koşullarında, A=115 U cm-3 olarak

bulunmuştur. Laboratuvar ölçekte bulunan en uygun koşullar kullanılarak,

oksijen aktarımının substrat tüketimine, mikroorganizma derişimine, ürün (β-

laktamaz) ve yan-ürün oluşumuna etkileri üç farklı hava giriş (Q0/ VR = 0.2, 0.5

and 1 vvm) ve karıştırma hızlarında ( N=250, 500, 750 dk-1) V= 3.0 dm3 hacımlı,

sıcaklık, pH, köpük, karıştırma ve çözünmüş oksijen derişimi kontrollü kesikli

biyoreaktörde araştırılmıştır. Proses sürecince, farklı oksijen aktarım koşullarında

hücre, substrat ve yan-ürün derişimleri, β-laktamaz aktivitesi, verim katsayıları,

spesifik hızlar, oksijen tüketim hızları ve sıvı faz kütle aktarım katsayıları (KLa)

bulunmuştur. En yüksek enzim aktivitesine A=90 U cm-3 olarak 0.5 vvm, 500

dk-1 ve 0.2 vvm 500 dk-1 koşullarında ulaşılırken, en yüksek hücre derişimine

Page 7: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

vii

Cx=0.67 kg m-3 olarak 0.5 vvm 750 dk-1 ve 0.2 vvm 750 dk-1 koşullarında

ulaşılmıştır. KLa, havalandırma ve karıştırma hızları artıkça artmış ve değeri

0.007-0.044 s-1 aralığında değişmiştir. Oksijen tüketim hızı ise 0.4-1.6 mol m-3 s-1

aralığında değişmiştir. Son olarak B.licheniformis ile β-laktamaz üretiminde oksijen

aktarım koşullarının hücreiçi tepkime hızlarına etkisi metabolik akı analizi ile

bulunmuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler: β-laktamaz, üretim, Bacillus, oksijen aktarımı, metabolik

akı analizi

Page 8: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

viii

To My Family

Page 9: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

ix

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Assoc. Prof. Dr.

Pınar Çalık and my co-supervisor Prof. Dr. Güzide Çalık for their guidance,

advice, criticism, encouragements and insight throughout the research.

I would also like to express my appreciation to Prof. H. Tunçer Özdamar for

giving me every opportunity to use the laboratories in Ankara University. And I

wish to thank all the members of his research group for their guidance, patience

and friendship during the experiments I performed in Ankara University.

I also wish to give my special thanks to all my friends in our research

group in Industrial Biotechnology Laboratory. I am especially grateful to Pınar

Yılgör, Pınar Kocabaş, İlkin Ece Telli, Peruze Ayhan, Eda Çelik and Ceren Oktar

for their valuable help, cooperation and friendship.

Financial Support provided by TUBITAK through project MISAG-258 and

METU-Research Fund are gratefully acknowledged.

Finally, I would like to express my deepest thanks to my family for

supporting, encouraging and loving me all through my life.

Page 10: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

x

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PLAGIARISM ........................................................................................... iii

ABSTRACT.............................................................................................. iv

ÖZ......................................................................................................... vi

DEDICATION..........................................................................................viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................. ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................ x

LIST OF TABLES .....................................................................................xiii

LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................... xv

NOMENCLATURE.................................................................................... xvii

CHAPTER

1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................... 1

2. LITERATURE SURVEY............................................................................. 5

2.1 Enzymes......................................................................................... 5

2.1.1 General Characteristics.............................................................. 5

2.1.2 Nomenclature and Classification of Enzymes................................. 6

2.1.3 Enzyme Activity........................................................................ 6

2.2 Beta-Lactamases ............................................................................. 7

2.3 Bioprocess Parameters in Enzyme Production ....................................... 9 2.3.1 Microorganism.......................................................................... 9 2.3.1.1 The Genus Bacillus ....................................................... 10 2.3.1.2 Major Metabolic Pathways and Regulations ...................... 10 2.3.1.3 Cell Growth, Kinetics and Yield Factors ............................ 16 2.3.2 Medium Design....................................................................... 20 2.3.3 Bioreactor Operation Parameters .............................................. 22

2.3.3.1 Temperature................................................................ 22

Page 11: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xi

2.3.3.2 pH ............................................................................. 23 2.3.3.3 Oxygen Transfer Rate ................................................... 24

2.4 Metabolic Flux Analysis .................................................................... 33

2.4.1 Modelling of Bioreaction Network for Metabolic Flux Analysis ......... 34 2.4.2 Solution of Mathematical Model................................................. 35

3. MATERIALS AND METHODS .................................................................. 38

3.1 Chemicals ..................................................................................... 38

3.2 The Microorganism ......................................................................... 38

3.3 The Solid Medium........................................................................... 38

3.4 The Precultivation Medium............................................................... 39

3.5 The Production Medium................................................................... 39

3.6 Analysis........................................................................................ 40 3.6.1 Cell Concentration .................................................................. 41 3.6.2 Beta-Lactamase Activity .......................................................... 41 3.6.3 Beta-Lactamase and Serine Alkaline Protease Concentrations........ 41 3.6.4 Reduced Sugar Concentration................................................... 41 3.6.5 Amino Acid Concentrations....................................................... 42 3.6.6 Organic Acid Concentrations..................................................... 42 3.6.7 Liquid Phase Mass Transfer Coefficient and Oxygen Uptake Rate.... 43

3.7 Mass Flux Balance-Based Analysis .................................................... 43

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................................................. 44

4.1 Medium Design .............................................................................. 44 4.1.1 Effect of Nitrogen Source Concentration ..................................... 44

4.2 Bioreactor Operation Parameters ...................................................... 45 4.2.1 Effect of pH and Temperature................................................... 46 4.2.2 Effect of Carbon Source Concentration ....................................... 47 4.2.3 The Optimized Medium ............................................................ 48

4.3 Effect of Oxygen Transfer ................................................................ 48 4.3.1 Dissolved Oxygen Concentration and pH Profiles ......................... 49 4.3.2 Glucose Concentration Profiles.................................................. 51 4.3.3 Cell Concentration Profiles ....................................................... 52

4.3.4 Beta-Lactamase Activity Profiles ............................................... 53

Page 12: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xii

4.3.5 Amino Acid Concentrations....................................................... 54 4.3.6 Organic Acid Concentrations..................................................... 59 4.3.7 Oxygen Transfer Characteristics................................................ 62 4.3.7.1 Volumetric Oxygen Transfer Coefficient ........................... 63 4.3.7.2 Oxygen Uptake Rate ..................................................... 65 4.3.8 Specific Growth Rates and Yield Coefficients ............................... 69

4.4 Metabolic Flux Analysis ................................................................... 74

4.4.1 Metabolic Flux Analysis for LimOT condition ................................ 76 4.4.2 Metabolic Flux Analysis for LOT1 condition .................................. 78 4.4.3 Metabolic Flux Analysis for MOT1 condition ................................. 80 4.4.4 Metabolic Flux Analysis for HOT2 condition.................................. 81

5. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................... 95

REFERENCES ....................................................................................... 103

APPENDICES........................................................................................ 109

A. Calibration of Bacillus licheniformis Concentration.................................. 109

B. Calibration of Beta-Lactamase Activity ................................................. 110

C. Calibration of Beta-lactamase Concentration......................................... 111

D. Calibration of Serine Alkaline Concentration.......................................... 112

E. Preparation of DNS Solution ............................................................... 113

F. Calibration of Reduced Sugar Concentration.......................................... 114

G. Metabolic Reactions for Bacillus licheniformis ........................................ 115

Page 13: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xiii

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE

2.1 International classification of enzymes ................................................... 7

2.2 Summary of batch cell growth............................................................. 17

2.3 Definition of yield coefficients.............................................................. 19

2.4 The major macronutrient elements, their physiological functions, growth

requirements and common sources................................................... 21

2.5 Parameter values for the emprical correlation of KLa............................... 29

3.1 The composition of the solid medium for Bacillus sp. .............................. 38

3.2 The composition of the precultivation medium....................................... 39

3.3 The composition of the reference production medium ............................. 40

4.1 Oxygen transfer conditions ................................................................. 49

4.2.a The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation broth

with the cultivation time at LimOT condition........................................ 56

4.2.b The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation broth

with the cultivation time at LOT1 condition.......................................... 56

4.2.c The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation broth

with the cultivation time at LOT2 condition.......................................... 57

4.2.d The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation broth

with the cultivation time at MOT1 condition ......................................... 57

4.2.e The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation broth

with the cultivation time at MOT2 condition ......................................... 58

4.2.f The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation broth

with the cultivation time at HOT1 condition ......................................... 58

4.2.g The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation broth

with the cultivation time at HOT2 condition ......................................... 59

Page 14: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xiv

4.3. The variations in organic acid concentrations in the fermentation broth

with the cultivation time at LimOT, LOT1, LOT2, MOT1, MOT2, HOT1 and

HOT2 conditions .............................................................................. 60

4.4 The variations of total organic acid concentration and non-excreted

organic acids with the constant air inlet and agitation rate .................... 62

4.5.a The variations in oxygen transfer parameters with cultivation time at

LimOT, LOT1 and LOT2 conditions ...................................................... 66

4.5.b The variations in oxygen transfer parameters with cultivation time at

MOT1, MOT2, HOT1 and HOT2 conditions ............................................. 67

4.6 The variations in oxygen transfer coefficients obtained from different

correlations and the average experimental value ................................. 68

4.7.a The variations in specific rates and yield coefficients with cultivation

time at LimOT, LOT1 and LOT2 conditions ........................................... 72

4.7.b The variations in specific rates and yield coefficients at MOT1, MOT2,

HOT1 and HOT2 conditions................................................................ 73

4.8 Metabolic flux distribution of β-lactamase fermentation of B.licheniformis

at LimOT, LOT1, MOT1 and HOT2 conditions ........................................ 83

4.9 ATP generation throughout the fermentation ......................................... 94

Page 15: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xv

LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 2.1 Hydrolysis of penicillins and cephalosporins by β-lactamase...................... 8

2.2 Overview of steps in the overall mass transfer of oxygen from a gas

buble to the reaction site inside the individual cells .............................. 25

2.3 Variation of dissolved oxygen concentration with time in dynamic

measurement of KLa. ....................................................................... 31

2.4 Evaluting KLa using the Dynamic Method ............................................. 31

4.1 The variation in β-lactamase activity with initial nitrogen concentration .... 45

4.2 The variations in β-lactamase activity with the initial pH. ....................... 46

4.3 The variations in β-lactamase activity with the initial pH and

temperature of the cultivation medium ............................................... 47

4.4 The variations in β-lactamase activity with the initial glucose

concentration .................................................................................. 48

4.5 The variations in dissolved oxygen concentration with cultivation time ..... 50

4.6 The variations in medium pH with cultivation time ................................ 51

4.7 The variations in glucose concentration with cultivation time .................. 52

4.8 The variations in cell concentration with cultivation time ........................ 53

4.9 The variations in β-lactamase activity with cultivation time..................... 54

4.10 The variations in total organic acid concentration with cultivation time .... 61

4.11 Correlation between the power nmber and the reynold number for a

bioreactor system with one-six bladed Rushton turbine impeller and

baffles........................................................................................... 64

Page 16: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xvi

4.12 The variations in specific growth rate with cultivation time .................... 70

4.13 The variations in specific substrate consumption rate with the cultivation

time .............................................................................................. 70

4.14 The variations in specific oxygen uptake rate with the cultivation time ... 71

4.15 The variations in specific β-lactamase production rate with the cultivation

time .............................................................................................. 71

4.16 The variations of cell and β-lactamase concentrations with the cultivation

time .............................................................................................. 75

4.17 The variations of SAP concentration with the cultivation time ................. 76

Page 17: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xvii

NOMENCLATURE

a The gas liquid interfacial area per unit liquid volume, m2 m-3

A Beta-lactamase activity, U cm-3

Aλ Absorbance

Ae Aeration number (=Q / NDI3 )

c (t) Metabolite accumulation vector

c1 (t) Extracellular metabolite accumulation vectors

c2 (t) Intracellular metabolite accumulation vectors

CAA Amino acid concentration, kg m-3

CB β-lactamase concentration, kg m-3

CC Citric Acid concentration, kg m-3

CG Glucose concentration, kg m-3

CG0 Initial glucose concentration, kg m-3

CN Nitrogen concentration, kg m-3

CN0 Initial nitrogen concentration, kg m-3

COA Organic acid concentration, kg m-3

CO Dissolved oxygen concentration, mol m-3; kg m-3

Co0 Initial dissolved oxygen concentration, mol m-3; kg m-3

CO* Oxygen saturation concentration, mol m-3; kg m-3

CSAP Serine alkaline protease concentration, kg m-3

CX Cell concentration, kg dry cell m-3

Da Damköhler number (=OD / OTRmax; Maximum possible oxygen

utilization rate per maximum mass transfer rate)

D Bioreactor diameter, m

DI Impeller diameter, m

E Enhancement factor (=KLa / KLao); mass transfer coefficient with

chemical reaction per physical mass transfer coefficient

Fr Froude number, (=N2DI/g )

KLa0 Physical overall liquid phase mass transfer coefficient; s-1

KLa Overall liquid phase mass transfer coefficient; s-1

Page 18: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xviii

N Agitation or shaking rate, min–1

Np Power number

P Power input in gas-free stirred liquid, W

PG Power input in aerated stirred liquid, W

pH0 Initial pH

Qo Volumetric air feed rate, m3 min-1

qo Specific oxygen uptake rate, kg kg –1 DW h-1

qs Specific substrate consumption rate, kg kg –1 DW h-1

r Volumetric rate of reaction, mol m-3 s-1

r(t) Vector of reaction fluxes

Re Reynolds number, (=NDI2ρ/µ )

r0 Oxygen uptake rate, mol m-3 s-1; kg m-3 h-1

rP Product formation rate, kg m-3 h-1

rS Substrate consumption rate, kg m-3 h-1

rX Rate of cell growth, kg m-3 h-1

t Bioreactor cultivation time, h

T Bioreaction medium temperature, °C

TAA Total amino acid concentration, kg m-3

TOA Total organic acid concentration, kg m-3

U One unit of an enzyme

V Volume of the bioreactor, m3

VR Volume of the bioreaction medium, m3

VS Superficial gas velocity, m s-1

YX/S Yield of cell on substrate, kg kg-1

YX/O Yield of cell on oxygen, kg kg-1

YS/O Yield of substrate on oxygen, kg kg-1

YP/X Yield of product on cell, kg kg-1

YP/S Yield of product on substrate, kg kg-1

YP/O Yield of product on oxygen, kg kg-1

Z Objective function

Greek Letters

η Effectiveness factor (=OUR/OD; the oxygen uptake rate per

maximum possible oxygen utilization rate)

µ Specific cell growth rate, h-1

µ max Maximum specific cell growth rate, h-1

Page 19: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xix

λ Wavelength, nm

αi Stoichiometric coefficient of the fluxes

ρl Liquid phase density, kg m-3

Abbreviations

Ac Acetic acid

AcCoA Acetyl coenzyme A

ADEPT Antibody-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy

ADP Adenosine 5’-diphosphate

ADPHep ADP-D-glycerol-D-mannoheptose

Ala Alanine

AMP Adenosine 5’-monophosphate

Arg Arginine

Asn Asparagine

Asp Aspartic acid

AspSa Aspartate semialdehyde

ATP Adenosine 5’-triphosphate

ATCC American Type Culture Collection

But Butyric acid

C14:0 Myristic acid

C14:1 Hydroxymyristic acid

CaP Carbamoyl-phosphate

CDP Cytidine 5’-diphosphate

CDPEtN CDP-ethanolamine

Cit Citrate

Citr Citruline

Chor Chorismate

CMP Cytidine 5’-monophosphate

CMPKDO CMP-3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid

CO2 Carbondioxide

CTP Cytidine 5’-triphosphate

Cys Cysteine

dATP 2’-Deoxy-ATP

dCTP 2’-Deoxy-CTP

dGTP 2’-Deoxy-GTP

dTTP 2’-Deoxy-TTP

Page 20: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xx

DC L-2,3 dihyrodipicolinate

DHF 7,8-Dihydrofolate

DNS Dinitrosalisylic acid

DO Dissolved oxygen

E4P Erythrose 4-phosphate

EC Enzyme Commission

F10THF N10-Formyl-THF

F6P Fructose 6-phosphate

FA Fatty acids

FADH Flavine adeninedinucleotide (reduced)

Frc Fructose

Fum Fumarate

G1P Glucose 1-phosphate

G6P Glucose 6-phosphate

GDP Guanosine 5’-diphosphate

GL3P Glycerol 3-phosphate

Glc Glucose

Gln Glutamine

Glu Glutamate

Gluc Gluconate

Gluc6P Gluconate 6-phosphate

Glx Glyoxylate

Gly Glycine

GMP Guanosine 5’-monophosphate

GTP Guanosine 5’-triphosphate

H2S Hydrogen sulfide

His Histidine

HOT1 High-oxygen transfer (Q0/VR = 1.0 vvm, N =500 min-1 condition)

HOT2 High-oxygen transfer (Q0/VR = 0.5 vvm, N =750 min-1 condition)

HSer Homoserine

ICit Isocitrate

IGP Indoleglycerolphosphate

Ile Isoleucine

IMP Inosinemonophosphate

αKG α-ketoglutarate

Kval Ketovaline

Lac Lactate

Page 21: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xxi

Leu Leucine

LimOT Limited-oxygen transfer (Q0/VR =0.2 vvm, N =250 min-1 condition)

LOT1 Low-oxygen transfer (Q0/VR = 0.5 vvm, N =250 min-1 condition)

LOT2 Low-oxygen transfer (Q0/VR = 0.2 vvm, N =500 min-1 condition)

Lys Lysine

Mal Malate

Man Mannose

Man6P Mannose 6-phosphate

mDAP meso-Diaminopimelate

Met Methionine

MeTHF N5- N10-methenyl-THF

MetTHF N5- N10-methylene-THF

MFA Metabolic Flux Analysis

MOT1 Medium-oxygen transfer (Q0/VR=0.5 vvm, N=500 min-1 condition)

MOT2 Medium-oxygen transfer (Q0/VR=0.2 vvm, N=750 min-1 condition)

MTHF N5- methyl-THF

NADH Nicotinamide-adeninedinucleotide (reduced)

NADPH Nicotinamide-adeninedinucleotide phosphate (reduced)

NH3 Ammonia

OA Oxaloacetic acid

Orn Ornithine

OD Oxygen demand (=µmax CX / YX/O; mol m-3 s-1)

OUR Oxygen uptake rate, mol m-3 s-1

OTR Oxygen transfer rate, mol m-3 s-1

OTRmax Maximum possible mass transfer rate (=KLaCO*; mol m-3 s-1)

PEP Phosphoenolpyruvate

PG3 Glycerate 3-phosphate

Phe Phenylalanine

Pi Inorganic ortophosphate

PPi Inorganic pyrophosphate

PRAIC 5’-Phosphoribosyl-4-carboxamide-5-aminoimidazole

Pro Proline

PRPP 5-Phospho-D-ribosylpyrophosphate

Pyr Pyruvate

R5P Ribulose 5-phosphate

Rib5P Ribose 5-phosphate

RPM Reference production medium

Page 22: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

xxii

S7P Sedoheptulose-7-phosphate

SAP Serine Alkaline Protease

Ser Serine

Suc Succinate

SucCoA Succinate coenzyme A

Xyl5P Xylulose 5-phosphate

TCA Tricarboxylic acid

Tet L-2,3,4,5 Tetrahydrodipicolinate

T3P Triose 3-phosphate

THF Tetrahydrofolate

Thr Threonine

Trp Tyrptophan

Tyr Tyrosine

UDP Uridine 5’-diphosphate

UDPGlc UDP-glucose

UDPNAG UDP-N-Acetyl-glucosamine

UDPNAM UDP-N-Acetyl-muramic acid

UMP Uridine 5’-monophosphate

UTP Uridine 5’-triphosphate

Val Valine

Page 23: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Biotechnology is the integrated use of natural sciences (biology,

biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry and physics) and engineering

sciences (chemical reaction engineering, electronics) to the processing of

materials by biological agents to provide goods and services (Moser, 1988).

Biotechnology has produced new products and processes in a number of

economic sectors including agriculture, food processing, chemical and

pharmaceutical industries, pesticides, detergents, feed stocks, recycling, and

waste treatment.

Enzymes are one of the most important products of biotechnological

processes. Industrial biotechnology companies develop new enzymes,

biocatalysts, to be used in manufacturing processes of other industries.

Enzymes are proteins produced by all living organisms. They are characterized

according to the compounds they act upon.

Industrial biotechnology companies look for biocatalysts with industrial

value in the natural environment; improve the biocatalysts to meet very specific

needs and manufacture them in commercial quantities using fermentation

systems. In some cases, genetically altered microbes (bacteria, yeast, etc.), in

others, naturally occurring microbes carry out the fermentation.

Some industrial enzymes are extracted from animal or plant tissues. Plant

derived commercial enzymes include proteolytic enzymes papain, bromelain and

ficin and some other specialty enzymes like lipoxygenase from soybeans. Animal

derived enzymes include proteinases like pepsin and rennin (Leisola et al.,

2001). Most of the enzymes are, however, produced by microorganisms in

submerged cultures. The use of microorganisms as a source material for enzyme

production has developed for several important reasons. These are the:

• Short operation time,

Page 24: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

2

• Cheap production medium,

• High specific activity per unit dry weight of product,

• Nonoccurrence of seasonal fluctuations of raw materials and possible

shortages due to climatic changes or political upheaval (Goel et al.,

1994),

• Availability of a wide spectrum of enzyme characteristics, such as pH

range and temperature resistance for selection,

• Possibility of increasing enzyme production by modifying the medium

composition or by genetic manipulation of the microorganism.

Presently the industrial enzyme companies sell enzymes for a wide variety

of applications. Detergents, textiles, starch, baking, animal feed, and

pharmaceuticals are the main industries using these industrially produced

enzymes. The estimated value of world enzyme market was about US $ 1.3

billion in 2000 and it has been forecasted to grow to almost US $ 2 billion by

2005 (Leisola et al., 2001).

β-lactamases, which are one of the most important industrial enzymes,

catalyze the hydrolysis of the β-lactam ring in the β-lactam antibiotics, i.e.,

penicillins and cephalosporins and antibiotically inactive products are formed.

Actually β-lactamases are the primary agents of bacterial resistance to

antibiotics. They are manufactured for the specific assay of penicillins,

destruction of residual penicillins / cephalosporins in body fluids and culture

media, sterility tests of penicillins, treatment of penicillin sensitivity reactions,

penicillin electrodes and for drug design (White and White, 1997). Recently, the

development of β-lactamase dependent prodrugs with the applications in

antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT) has been an area of

particular interest (Tang et al., 2003).

In enzyme production by bioprocesses, there are some important factors

that must be taken into account in order to get high yield, selectivity and

productivity. These are the microorganism, medium design and bioreactor

operation conditions, i.e., oxygen transfer rate, pH and temperature.

Page 25: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

3

Selection of a proper microorganism is very important in bioprocesses since

microorganisms act as microbioreactors in the bioreactor operation systems.

Therefore the microorganisms used should be stable, should not produce toxins

and its enzyme production capacity should be high. Beta-lactamases, like most

of the commercial enzymes, are industrially produced mostly by Bacillus species

due to their ability to secrete high amounts of extracellular enzymes.

In bioprocesses besides the selection of the most potential producer, the

medium composition is indeed important. Carbon and energy sources and their

concentrations are important as they are the tools for bioprocess medium design

(Çalık et al., 2001).

Oxygen transfer, pH, and temperature that are the major bioreactor

operation conditions show diverse effects on product formation in aerobic

fermentation processes by influencing metabolic pathways and changing

metabolic fluxes (Çalık et al., 1999). In general, according to cell growth

conditions and metabolic pathway analysis, some bioprocesses require high

oxygen transfer rate conditions, while others require controlled oxygen transfer

rates in order to regulate oxygen uptake rates (Çalık et al., 1998).

In Bacillus, substrate and medium design, and bioreactor operation

conditions, e.g. oxygen transfer rate and pH, regulate enzyme formation

throughout the bioprocess. In this context, the regulation of the intracellular

reaction network towards the synthesis of the desired enzyme in a well designed

medium is indeed important in order to increase the yield and selectivity within

the ultimate limit of the production capacity of the cell (Çalık et al., 2001).

Because metabolic reactions are intimately coupled with bioreactor-

operation conditions, metabolic flux analysis, in addition to the successful

application of metabolic engineering, is helpful in describing the interactions

between the cell and the bioreactor for the purpose of fine tuning the bioreactor

performance. Therefore, knowing the distribution of the metabolic fluxes during

the growth, product, and by-product formations in the bioreactor provides new

information for understanding physiological characteristics of the microorganism

and reveals important features of the regulation of the bioprocess for enzyme

production (Çalık et al., 1998).

Page 26: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

4

Because of the medical implications of β-lactamase, it has been focus of

intense research over the last half century, however, mostly from the point of

view of enzyme induction, secretion and purification.

Related with medium design, the effect of glucose was investigated for

improving β-lactamase production (Hemila et al., 1992). Among the bioreactor

operation parameters, the effects of pH (Sargent et al., 1968; Hemila et al.,

1992), temperature (Bernstein et al., 1967; Kuennen et al.,1980; Hemila et al.,

1992) and dissolved oxygen (Sargantanis and Karim, 1996; 1998) on β-

lactamase production are reported (Çelik, 2003). In the recent study of Çelik and

Çalık (2004) bioprocess design parameters for β-lactamase production by

Bacillus species were investigated. However in the literature there are no studies

related with the metabolic flux analysis for β-lactamase production and the

influence of oxygen-transfer conditions on the intracellular metabolic flux

distributions.

In this study, the defined medium was designed in terms of its carbon and

nitrogen sources concentration. Thereafter, by using the designed medium, the

effects of bioprocess operation parameters, i.e., pH and temperature, on β-

lactamase activity were investigated in laboratory scale bioreactors. Then, using

the optimum bioprocess parameters, the effects of oxygen transfer on the β-

lactamase production and variations in the by-product concentration were

investigated. Finally, metabolic flux analysis for β-lactamase production was

made and the influence of oxygen transfer conditions on the intracellular

metabolic flux distributions in B.licheniformis under well-defined batch bioreactor

conditions was investigated to evaluate the effects on the metabolism of the

bacilli in the β-lactamase fermentation process.

Page 27: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

5

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE SURVEY

2.1 Enzymes

2.1.1 General Characteristics

Enzymes are usually proteins of high molecular weight (15,000 < MW<

several million daltons) that act as catalysts. Some RNA molecules are also

catalytic, but the vast majority of cellular reactions are mediated by protein

catalysts (Shuler and Kargi, 1992).

Similar to chemical catalyst, enzymes lower the activation energy of the

reaction catalyzed without undergoing a permanent chemical change. While a

catalyst influences the rate of a chemical reaction, it does not affect reaction

equilibrium. Catalytic activity of enzymes differs from that of other catalysts as

follows:

1) Enzymes are highly efficient, with turnover numbers (N, i.e. the number

of molecules associated with a site per second) frequently higher than those of

inorganic catalysts, especially when considering reactions carried out within the

physiological temperature range 25-37°C.

2) Enzyme reactions are specific in the nature of the reaction catalyzed and

the substrate utilized.

3) Enzymes are extremely versatile catalysts.

4) Enzymes are subject to cellular control. For example, genetic control can

influence the rate of synthesis and final cellular concentration of an enzyme.

Using gene manipulation techniques, it is possible to produce microbial mutants

that are capable of producing large amounts of an enzyme, resulting in high

product formation from readily available substrate. Furthermore, the presence of

Page 28: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

6

a certain substrate may induce the conversion of an enzyme from an inactive to

active form (Atkinson and Mavituna, 1991).

Another distinguishing characteristic of enzymes is their frequent need for

cofactors. A cofactor is a nonprotein compound which combines with an other-

wise inactive protein to give a catalytically active complex. The simplest

cofactors are metal ions like Ca2+, Zn2+, Co2+, etc (Bailey, 1986).

2.1.2 Nomenclature and Classification

Individual enzymes selectively catalyze specific reactions. Because of the

high degree of specificity, a system has been established by the Commission on

Enzymes of the International Union of Biochemistry. In this system, as given in

Table 2.1 enzymes are divided into six major classes.

Each of the major classes is further divided into numerical subclasses and

sub-subclasses according to the individual reactions involved (Atkinson and

Mavituna, 1991). Each enzyme has a classification number proposed by the

Enzyme Commission (EC numbers). These classification numbers, prefixed by

EC, which are now widely in use, contain four elements separated by points, with

the following meaning: (i) the first number shows to which of the six main

divisions (classes) the enzyme belongs, (ii) the second figure indicates the

subclass, (iii) the third figure gives the sub-subclass, (iv) the fourth figure is the

serial number of the enzyme in its sub-subclass. For example, the EC number of

β-lactamase is EC 3.5.2.6, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of C-N bond in β-

lactam ring.

2.1.3 Enzyme Activity

The qualitative description of the chemical reactions they catalyze forms

the basis for their classification, while their catalytic activity is quantitatively

expressed in terms of units of activity. The quantitative activity of enzymes give

indication of how much enzyme should be used to achieve a required effect

(product yield) and forms the basis for comparison of several similar enzyme

products (Godfrey and West, 1996). However, a comparison of the activity of

different enzyme preparations is only possible if the assay procedure is

performed exactly in the same way (Faber, 2000). The Commission on Enzymes

Page 29: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

7

suggested that a standard unit definition of enzyme activity should be as (Çelik,

2003):

One unit (U) of any enzyme is defined as that amount which will

catalyze the transformation of one micromole of substrate per minute

under defined conditions.

Table 2.1 International classification of enzymes.

No Class Type of reaction catalyzed

1 Oxidoreductases Transfer of electrons

2 Transferases Group-transfer reactions

3 Hydrolases Transfer of functional groups to water

4 Lyases Addition of groups to double bonds or the reverse

5 Isomerases Transfer of groups within molecules to yield

isomeric forms

6 Ligases Formation of C-C, C-S, C-O, and C-N bonds by

condensation reactions coupled to ATP cleavage

2.2 Beta-Lactamases

Bacteria have developed several strategies for escaping the activity of

lethal compounds: enzymatic destruction, decrease of the target sensitivity,

modification of the diffusion barrier(s) and active efflux systems. They utilise

them all to fight beta-lactams but the most common of these resistance

mechanisms is the synthesis of beta-lactamases, enzymes which are usually

secreted into the outer medium by Gram-positive species and into the periplasm

by their Gram-negative counterparts (Matagne et al., 1998). They catalyze the

hydrolysis of β-lactam ring in β-lactam antibiotics, i.e. penicillins and

cephalosporins (Figure 2.1). The products of this hydrolysis reaction are

antibiotically inactive biomolecules.

The synthesis of β-lactamases is observed in a wide range of bacteria in

varying amounts. It has also been found in blue-green algae (Kushner and

Page 30: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

8

Breuil, 1977) and yeast (Mehta and Nash, 1978). The presence of this enzyme in

non-bacterial systems suggests that it may have a more widespread role (Çelik,

2003).

Beta-lactamases consist of a single polypeptide chain with the complete

absence of cysteine residue. Specifically β-lactamase from Bacillus licheniformis

consists of 265 amino acids (Çelik, 2003).

In most cases the reported molecular weight for β-lactamases from gram-

positive bacteria is within the range of 28000 – 30000 Da. With benzylpenicillin

as the substrate, typical pH-activity and temperature-activity curves obtained

with β-lactamases from gram-positive bacteria shows maxima in the range of pH

6.0-7.0 and 30°-40°C respectively. The enzyme from Bacillus species are

reasonably stable between pH 3.0-10.0 and are quite thermostable (Çelik,

2003).

Figure 2.1 Hydrolysis of penicillins and cephalosporins by β-lactamase.

R CO NC

C N

C

CH

CS CH3

CH3

O COO-

H

H H

+ H2O C

C N

C

CH

CS CH3

CH3

COOOH

HNR CO

H H

O H

Penicillin Penicilloic acid

R CO N

O

H

H HC

C N

C

CC

CH2

S

CH2R

2

COO-

+ H2O C

C N

C

CC

CH2

S

CH2R

2

COO-OH

HH

HNR CO

OH

Cephalosporin Cephalosporoic acid

β-lactamase

β-lactamase

Page 31: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

9

Beta-lactamases are manufactured for the specific assay of penicillins,

destruction of residual penicillins/ cephalosporins in body fluids and culture

media, sterility tests of penicillins, treatment of penicillin sensitivity reactions

and for drug design (White and White, 1997).

2.3 Bioprocess Parameters in Enzyme Production

Any operation involving the transformation of some raw material (biological

or non-biological) into some product by means of microorganisms, animal or

plant cell cultures, or by materials (e.g. enzymes, organelles) derived from

them, may be termed as a “bioprocess” (Moses and Cape, 1991).

In aerobic bioprocesses, there are some important factors that must be

taken into account in order to have high product yield. These are:

1. Microorganism

2. Medium design

3. Bioreactor operation parameters

i. Oxygen transfer rate

* Air inlet rate (Q0/ V)

* Agitation rate (N)

ii. pH and temperature.

2.3.1 Microorganism

In bioprocesses selecting the proper microorganism is very important in

order to obtain the desired product. In choosing the production strain several

aspects have to be considered. Ideally the enzyme is secreted from the cell. This

makes the recovery and purification process much simpler compared to

production of intracellular enzymes, which must be purified from thousands of

different cell proteins and other components. Secondly, the production host

should have a GRAS-status, which means that it is Generally Regarded As Safe.

Thirdly, the organism should be able to produce high amount of the desired

enzyme in a reasonable time frame (Leisola et al., 2001). Traditionally,

identification of the most suitable enzyme source involves screening a wide

range of candidate microorganisms. After screening, most of the industrially

used microorganisms have been genetically modified to overproduce the desired

activity and not to produce undesired side activities.

Page 32: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

10

Beta-lactamases are produced by most, if not all, bacterial species, blue

green algae and yeasts. Among many species, Bacillus strains, which fulfill all

the above criteria, are attractive as microbioreactors under well-designed

bioreactor operation conditions due to their secretion ability of large amounts of

enzyme into the bioreactor medium (Çalık et al., 2003b), and this makes the

genus Bacillus more favorable than the others for β-lactamase production.

In the literature concerning β-lactamase production, Sargent et al. (1968)

and Çelik and Çalık (2004) used B. licheniformis; Bernstein et al. (1967),

Kuennen et al. (1980) and Wase and Patel (1987) used B. cereus; whereas,

Hemila et al. (1992), and Sargantanis and Karim (1996, 1998) used B.subtilis.

2.3.1.1 The Genus Bacillus

The rod-shaped bacteria that aerobically form refractile endospores are

assigned to the genus Bacillus. The endospores of the bacilli are resistant to

heat, drying, disinfectants and other destructive agents, and thus may remain

viable for centuries.

The genus Bacillus encompasses a great diversity of strains. Some species

are strictly aerobic, others are facultatively aerobic. Although the majority are

mesophobic, there are also psycrophilic and thermophilic species. Some are

acidophiles while others are alkalophiles. Specifically, B.licheniformis produces

oval endospores that do not swell the mother cell. It is gram positive, is motile

by peritrichous flagella, and produces acids from a range of sugars. It is listed by

the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a GRAS organism.

B.licheniformis is a facultative anaerobe, having pH and temperature tolerance in

the range of 5.0-7.5 and 15°C-50°C respectively. (Priest, 1993; and Laskin and

Lechevalier, 1973).

2.3.1.2 Major Metabolic Pathways and Regulations

A living cell is a complex chemical reactor in which more than 1000

independent enzyme-catalyzed reactions occur. The metabolic reactions tend to

be organized into sequences called metabolic pathways, and that there is some

connection between the pathways by virtue of circular, closed pathways feeding

back on themselves and because of pathway branches which connect one

reaction sequence with another. In this sequence of steps (the pathway), a

Page 33: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

11

precursors is converted into a product through series of metabolic intermediates

(metabolites) (Bailey and Ollis 1986). Catabolism is the degradative phase of

metabolism, in which organic nutrient molecules (carbohydrates, fats, and

proteins) are converted into smaller, simpler end products (e.g., lactic acid CO2,

NH3). Catabolic pathways release free energy some of which is converted in the

formation of ATP and reduced electron carriers (NADH and NADPH). In

anabolism, also called biosynthesis, small, simple precursors are built up into

larger and more complex molecules, including lipids, polysaccharides, proteins,

and nucleic acids. Anabolic reactions require the input of energy, generally in the

forms of the free energy of hydrolysis of ATP and the reducing power of NADH

and NADPH (Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, 1993).

Glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid are two central catabolic pathways by

which cells obtain energy from various fuels. Furthermore, the synthesis of

carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleotides are the major anabolic pathways

taking place in the microorganism.

In cell metabolism, groups of enzymes work together in sequential

pathways to carry out a given metabolic process, such as the multi-reaction

synthesis of an amino acid from simpler precursors in a bacterial cell. In such

enzyme systems, the reaction product of the first enzyme becomes the substrate

of the next and so on. In each enzyme system, there is at least one enzyme that

sets the rate of the overall sequence because it catalyzes the slowest or rate-

limiting reaction. These regulatory enzymes exhibit increased or decreased

catalytic activity in response to certain signals. By the action of such regulatory

enzymes, the rate of each metabolic sequence is constantly adjusted to meet

changes in the cell’s demands for energy and for biomolecules required in cell

growth and repair. In most multi-enzyme systems the first enzyme of the

sequence is a regulatory enzyme. The activity of regulatory enzymes is

modulated through various types of signal molecules, which are generally small

metabolites or cofactors. There are two major classes of regulatory enzymes in

metabolic pathways. Allosteric enzymes function through reversible, non

covalent binding of a regulatory metabolite called a modulator. The modulators

for allosteric enzymes may be either inhibitory or stimulatory. An activator is

often the substrate itself, and regulatory enzymes for which substrate and

modulator are identical are called homotropic. When the modulator is a molecule

other than the substrate the enzyme is heterotropic. Allosteric enzymes are

Page 34: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

12

significantly different from those of simple non-regulatory enzymes. Some of the

differences are structural. In addition to active or catalytic sites, allosteric

enzymes generally have one or more regulatory or allosteric sites for its

substrate, the allosteric site is specific for its modulator (Lehninger, Nelson and

Cox, 1993).

The second class includes enzymes regulated by reversible covalent

modification. Modifying groups include phosphate, adenosine monophosphate,

adenosine diphosphate ribose, and methyl groups. These are generally

covalently linked to and removed from the regulatory enzyme by separate

enzymes (Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, 1993).

In some multi-enzyme systems the regulatory enzyme is specifically

inhibited by the end product of the pathway, whenever the end product

increases in excess of the cell’s needs. When the regulatory enzyme reaction is

slowed, all subsequent enzymes operate at reduced rates because their

substrates are depleted by mass action. The rate of production of the pathway’s

end product is thereby brought into balance with the cell’s needs. This type of

regulation is called feedback inhibition (Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, 1993).

a) Glycolysis Pathway

In glycolysis a molecule of glucose is degraded in a series of enzyme-

catalyzed reactions to yield two molecules of pyruvate. The breakdown of six-

carbon glucose into two molecules of the three-carbon pyruvate occurs in ten

steps, the first five of which constitute the preparatory phase. In these reactions

glucose is first phosphorylated at the hydroxyl group on C-6. The glucose-6-

phosphate (G6P) thus formed is converted to fructose-6-phosphate (F6P), which

is again phosphorylated, this time at C-1, to yield fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. For

both phosphorylations, ATP is the phosphate donor. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate is

next split to yield two three-carbon molecules, dihydroxyacetone phosphate and

glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. The dihydroxyacetone phosphate is isomerized to a

second molecule of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate; this ends the first phase of

glycolysis. The energy gain comes in the payoff phase of glycolysis. Each

molecule of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate is oxidized and phosphorylated by

inorganic phosphate to form 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Energy is released as two

molecules of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate are converted into two molecules of

pyruvate (Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, 1993).

Page 35: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

13

The flux of glucose through the glycolytic pathway is regulated to achieve

constant ATP levels as well as adequate supplies of glycolytic intermediates that

serve biosynthetic roles. The required adjustment in the rate of glycolysis is

achieved by the regulation of three enzymes: Hexokinase, phosphofructokinase-

1 and pyruvate kinase. Hexokinase which catalyze the conversion of glucose to

G6P is one of the regulatory enzyme in glycolytic pathway, whenever the

concentration of G6P in the cell rises above its normal level, hexokinase is

temporarily and reversible inhibited, bringing the rate of G6P formation balance

with the rate of its utilization and reestablishing the steady-state (Lehninger,

Nelson and Cox, 1993).

The irreversible reaction of F6P to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate catalyzes by

phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) which has several regulatory sites where

allosteric activators or inhibitors bind. ATP is not only a substrate for PFK-1 but

also the end product of the glycolytic pathway. When high ATP levels signal that

the cell is producing ATP faster than it is consuming it, ATP inhibits PFK-1 by

binding to an allosteric site and lowering the affinity of the enzyme for its

substrate fructose-6-phosphate. ADP and AMP, which rise in concentration when

the consumption of ATP outpaces its production, act allosterically to relieve this

inhibition by ATP. These effects combine to produce higher enzyme activity when

F6P, ADP, or AMP builds up, and lower activity when ATP accumulates. Citrate, a

key intermediate in the aerobic oxidation of pyruvate, also serves as an allosteric

regulator of PFK-1; high citrate concentration increases the inhibitory effect of

ATP, further reducing the flow of glucose through glycolysis (Lehninger, Nelson

and Cox, 1993).

The reaction of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate catalyzes by pyruvate

kinase. High concentrations of ATP inhibit pyruvate kinase allosterically, by

decreasing the affinity of the enzyme for its substrate phosphoenolpyruvate

(PEP). Pyruvate kinase is also inhibited by acetyl-CoA and by long-chain fatty

acids. Thus whenever the cell has a high concentration of ATP, or whenever

ample fuels are already available for energy-yielding respiration, glycolysis is

inhibited by the slowed action of pyruvate kinase (Lehninger, Nelson and Cox,

1993).

Page 36: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

14

b) Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle

In aerobic organisms, glucose and other sugars, fatty acids, and most of

the amino acids are ultimately oxidized to CO2 and H2O via the tricarboxylic acid

cycle (citric acid cycle). Before they can enter the cycle, the carbon skeletons of

sugars and fatty acids must be degraded to the acetyl group of acetyl-CoA, the

form in which the citric acid cycle accepts most of its fuel input.

To begin a turn of the cycle, acetyl-CoA donates its acetyl group to the

four-carbon compound oxaloacetate to form the six-carbon citrate. Citrate is

then transformed into isocitrate, also six-carbon molecule, which is

dehydrogenated with loss of CO2 to yield the five-carbon compound α-

ketoglutarate. The latter undergoes loss of CO2 and ultimately yields the four-

carbon compound succinate and a second molecule of CO2. Succinate is then

enzymatically converted in three steps into the four-carbon oxaloacetate, with

which the cycle began; thus, oxaloacetate is ready to react with another

molecule of acetyl-CoA to start a second turn. In each turn of the cycle, one

acetyl group enters as acetyl-CoA and two molecules of CO2 leave. Four of the

eight steps in this process are oxidations, in which the energy of oxidation is

conserved, with high efficiency, in the formation of reduced cofactors (NADH and

FADH2) (Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, 1993).

The flow of carbon atoms from pyruvate into and through the citric acid

cycle is under tight regulation at two levels: the conversion of pyruvate into

acetyl-CoA, the starting material for the cycle, and the entry of acetyl-CoA into

the cycle. The cycle is also regulated at the isocitrate dehydrogenase and α-

ketoglutarate dehydrogenase reactions (Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, 1993).

The combined dehydrogenation and de-carboxylation of pyruvate to acetyl-

CoA catalyzes by pyruvate dehydrogenase complex contains three different

enzymes which are pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), dihydrolipoyl transacetylase

(E2) and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3) as well as five different coenzymes or

prosthetic groups- thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), flavin adenine dinucleotide

(FAD), coenzyme A (CoA), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), and lipoate.

Furthermore, thiamin (in TPP), riboflavin (in FAD), niacin (in NAD), and

pantothenate (in coenzyme A) are vital vitamins of this system. The complex is

strongly inhibited by ATP, as well as by acetyl-CoA and NADH, the products of

Page 37: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

15

the reaction. The allosteric inhibition of pyruvate oxidation is greatly enhanced

when long-chain fatty acids are available. AMP, CoA, and NAD+, all of which

accumulate when too little acetate flows into the citric acid cycle, allosterically

activate the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Thus this enzyme activity is

turned off when sufficient fuel is available in the form of fatty acids and acetyl-

CoA and when the cell’s ATP concentration and [NADH]/[NAD+] ratio are high,

and turned on when energy demands are high and greater flux of acetyl-CoA

into the citric acid cycle is required (Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, 1993).

There are three strongly exergonic steps in the cycle, those catalyzed by

citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase.

Each can become the rate-limiting step under some circumstances. The

availability of the substrates for citrate synthase (acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate)

varies with the metabolic circumstances and sometimes limits the rate of citrate

formation. NADH, a product of the oxidation of isocitrate and α-ketoglutarate,

accumulates under some conditions, and when the [NADH]/[NAD+] ratio

becomes large, both dehydrogenase reactions are severely inhibited by mass

action. Similarly, the malate dehydrogenase reaction is essentially at equilibrium

in the cell, and when [NADH]/[NAD+] ratio is large, the concentration of

oxaloacetate is low, slowing the first step in the cycle. Product accumulation

inhibits all three of the limiting steps of the cycle. The inhibition of citrate

synthase by ATP is relieved by ADP, an allosteric activator of this enzyme. In

short, the concentrations of substrates and intermediates of the citric acid cycle

set the flux through this pathway at a rate that provides optimal concentrations

of ATP and NADH (Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, 1993).

In some organisms acetate can serve both as an energy-rich fuel and as a

source of phosphoenolpyruvate for carbohydrate synthesis. These organisms

have a pathway, the glyoxylate cycle, that allows the net conversion of acetate

to oxaloacetate. In the glyoxylate cycle, acetyl-CoA condenses with oxaloacetate

to form citrate exactly as in the citric acid cycle. The breakdown of isocitrate

does not occur via the isocitrate dehydrogenase reaction, however, but through

a cleavage catalyzed by the enzyme isocitrate lyase, to form isocitrate and

glyoxylate. The glyoxylate then condenses with acetyl-CoA to yield malate in a

reaction catalyzed by malate synthase. The malate subsequently oxidized to

oxaloacetate, which can condense with another molecule of acetyl-CoA to start

another turn of the cycle. The accumulation of intermediates of the central

Page 38: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

16

energy-yielding pathways, or energy depletion, results in the activation of

isocitrate dehydrogenase. When the concentration of these regulators falls,

signaling enough flux through the energy yielding citric acid cycle, isocitrate

dehydrogenase is inactivated.

The tricarboxylic cycle and glycolysis are critical catabolic pathways and

also provide important precursors for the biosynthesis of amino acids, nucleic

acids, lipids and polysaccharides. There are, however, other catabolic pathways

taken by glucose that lead to specialized products needed by the cell, and these

pathways constitute part of the secondary metabolism of glucose. One such

pathway is pentose-phosphate pathway which produces NADPH and ribose-5-

phosphate. NADPH is a carrier of chemical energy in the form of reducing power.

The biosynthesis of fatty acids requires reducing power in the form of NADPH to

reduce the double bounds and carbonyl groups of intermediates in this process.

A second function of the pentose phosphate pathway is to generate essential

pentoses, particularly ribose, used in the biosynthesis of nucleic acids

(Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, 1993).

In cells that require primarily NADPH rather than ribose-5-phosphate,

pentose phosphates are recycled into glucose-6-phosphate in a series of

reactions. First, ribulose-5-phosphate (R5P) is epimerized to xylulose-5-

phosphate. Then, in series of rearrangements of the carbon skeletons of sugar

phosphate intermediates, six five-carbon sugar phosphates are converted into

five six-carbon sugar phosphates, completing the cycle and allowing continued

oxidation of glucose-6-phosphate with the production of NADPH. In non-

oxidative reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway convert pentose

phosphates back into hexose phosphates, allowing the oxidative reactions to

continue (Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, 1993).

2.3.1.3 Cell Growth, Kinetics and Yield Factors

Cellular growth is the result of a very large number of chemical reactions

that occur inside individual cells. These reactions include formation of Gibbs free

energy, which is used to fuel all the other reactions, biosynthesis of building

blocks from substrates, polymerization of the building blocks into

macromolecules, and assembly of macromolecules into organelles. In order to

ensure orderly and energy-efficient growth, most of these reactions have to be

Page 39: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

17

tightly coupled, and the flux through the various pathways inside the cell is

therefore carefully controlled (Nielsen and Villadsen, 1994).

The rates of formation of biomass and metabolic products can be

determined from measurements of the corresponding concentrations. It is

therefore possible to determine what flows into the total pool of cells and what

flows out of this pool. Volumetric rates can be obtained from the direct

measurements of the concentrations. Often it is convenient to normalize the

rates with respect to the amount of biomass present, since the rates hereby

easily can be compared between fermentation experiments, even when the

amount of biomass changes. Such normalized rates are referred to as specific

rates. The specific growth rate of the total biomass, µ, is also a very important

variable, which is defined as:

dtdC

Cx

x

1=µ (2.1)

where CX is the cell mass concentration (kg m-3), and t is time (h). The

specific growth rate, µ has the units h-1 (Ratledge and Kristiansen, 2001).

Several phases of cell growth are observed in batch culture. Table 2.2

provides a summary of batch cell growth and metabolic activity during the

phases of batch culture.

Table 2.2 Summary of batch cell growth.

Phase Description Specific growth rate

Lag Cells adapt to the new environment µ ≈ 0

Acceleration Growth starts µ < µmax

Growth Growth achieves its maximum rate µ ≈ µmax

Decline Growth slows due to nutrient exhaustion

or build-up of inhibitory products

µ < µmax

Stationary Growth ceases µ = 0

Death Cells lose viability and lyse µ < 0

Page 40: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

18

During the exponential growth period –including lag, acceleration, and

growth phases in batch growth, rate of cell growth, rX, is described by the

following equation:

XX

X Cdt

dCr µ== (2.2)

Similarly, substrate consumption rate, -rS and product formation rate, rP, is

described by the following equations respectively:

dtdC

r SS =− (2.3)

dtdCr P

P = (2.4)

Specific substrate consumption and product formation rates are described

as follows:

X

SS C

rq

−= (2.5)

X

PP C

rq = (2.6)

Another class of very important design parameters is the yield coefficients,

which quantify the amount of substrate recovered in biomass and metabolic

products. A list of frequently used yield coefficients is given in Table 2.3.

Yield coefficients are defined based on the amount of consumption of

another material. For example, the yield coefficient of a metabolic product on a

substrate is:

SPY SP ∆

∆−=/ (2.7)

Page 41: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

19

where, YP/S is the yield coefficient, P and S are product and substrate,

respectively, involved in metabolism. ∆P is the mass or moles of P produced,

and ∆S is the mass or moles of S consumed. This definition gives an overall yield

representing some sort of average value for the entire culture period. However,

in batch processes, the yield coefficients may show variations throughout the

process for a given microorganism in a given medium, due to the growth rate

and metabolic functions of the microorganism. Therefore, it is sometimes

necessary to evaluate the instantaneous yield at a particular point in time.

Instantaneous yield can be calculated as follows:

S

PSP r

rdtdSdtdP

dSdPY =−=−=

//

/ (2.8)

When yields for fermentation are reported, the time or time period to which

they refer should be stated (Doran, 1995).

Table 2.3 Definition of yield coefficients.

Symbol Definition Unit

YX/S Mass of cells produced per unit mass of

substrate consumed

kg cell kg-1 substrate

YX/O Mass of cells produced per unit mass of

oxygen consumed

kg cell kg-1 oxygen

YS/O Mass of substrate consumed per unit

mass of oxygen consumed

kg substrate kg-1 oxygen

YP/X Mass of product formed per unit mass

of cells produced

kg product kg-1 cell

YP/S Mass of product formed per unit mass

of substrate consumed

kg product kg-1 substrate

YP/O Mass of product formed per unit mass

of oxygen consumed

kg product kg-1 oxygen

Page 42: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

20

2.3.2 Medium Design

The general goal in making a medium is to support good growth and/or

high rates of product synthesis. Contrary to intuitive expectation, this does not

necessarily mean that all nutrients should be supplied in great excess.

Most of the products formed by organisms are produced as a result of their

response to environmental conditions, such as nutrients, growth hormones, and

ions. The qualitative and quantitative nutritional requirements of cells need to be

determined to optimize growth and product formation (Shuler and Kargi, 1992).

Nutrients required by cells can be classified in two categories:

1. Macronutrients are needed in concentrations larger than 10-4M. Carbon,

nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, Mg2+, and K+ are major

macronutrients.

2. Micronutrients are needed in concentrations of less than 10-4M. Trace

elements such as Mo2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Ca2+, Na2+, vitamins,

growth hormones, and metabolic precursors are micronutrients.

Table 2.4 lists the eight major macronutrients, their physiological functions,

typical amount required in fermentation broth, and common sources.

For any bacterium to be propagated for any purpose it is necessary to

provide the appropriate biochemical and biophysical environment. The

biochemical (nutritional) environment is made available as a culture medium,

and depending upon the special needs of particular bacteria a large variety and

types of culture media have been developed with different purposes and uses

(Todar, 2000). There are two major types of growth media, defined and

complex, depending on their composition. A chemically defined (synthetic)

medium is one in which chemical composition is well known. Such media can be

constructed by supplementing a mineral base with the necessary carbon,

nitrogen, and energy sources as well as any necessary vitamins. The primary

advantage of defined media is that the results are more reproducible and the

operator has better control of the fermentation. Complex media contain natural

compounds whose chemical composition is not exactly known. A complex

medium usually can provide the necessary growth factors, vitamins, hormones,

and trace elements.

Page 43: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

21

Com

mon S

ourc

e

Glu

cose

, su

crose

fru

ctose

(f

or

def

ined

med

ium

)

Am

monia

, am

monia

sal

ts,

pro

tein

s, a

min

o a

cids

Car

bon

com

pou

nds

such

as

carb

ohyd

rate

s

Spar

gin

g a

ir o

r su

rfac

e ae

ration

Sulp

hat

e sa

lts

Inorg

anic

phosp

hat

e sa

lts

(KH

2PO

4,

K2H

PO4)

Inorg

anic

pota

ssiu

m s

alts

(K

H2PO

4,

K2H

PO4,

K3PO

4)

MgSO

47H

2O

, M

gCl 2

Req

uired

Conce

ntr

atio

n

(mol l-1

)

> 1

0-2

10

-3

10

-4

10

-4 t

o 1

0-3

10

-4 t

o 1

0-3

10

-4 t

o 1

0-3

Phys

iolo

gic

al Fu

nct

ion

Const

ituen

t of

org

anic

cel

lula

r m

ater

ial. O

ften

the

ener

gy

sourc

e.

Const

ituen

t of

pro

tein

s, n

ucl

eic

acid

s, a

nd c

oen

zym

es.

Const

ituen

t of

org

anic

cel

lula

r m

ater

ial an

d w

ater

.

Const

ituen

t of

org

anic

cel

lula

r m

ater

ial an

d w

ater

. Req

uired

for

aero

bic

res

pirat

ion.

Const

ituen

t of

pro

tein

s an

d c

erta

in c

oen

zym

es.

Const

ituen

t of

nucl

eic

acid

s, p

hosp

holip

ids,

nucl

eotides

and

cert

ain c

oen

zym

es.

Princi

pal

inorg

anic

cat

ion in t

he

cell

and c

ofa

ctor

for

som

e en

zym

es.

Cofa

ctor

for

man

y en

zym

es a

nd c

hlo

rophyl

ls a

nd p

rese

nt

in t

he

cell

wal

ls a

nd m

embra

nes

.

Tab

le 2

.4 T

he

maj

or

mac

ronutr

ient

elem

ents

, th

eir

phys

iolo

gic

al f

unct

ions,

gro

wth

req

uirem

ents

and c

omm

on s

ourc

es.

Ele

men

t

Car

bon

Nitro

gen

Hyd

rogen

Oxy

gen

Sulfur

Phosp

horu

s

Pota

ssiu

m

Mag

nes

ium

Page 44: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

22

In the study of Çelik and Çalık (2004), the effects of medium components

for β-lactamase production by Bacillus species were investigated and medium

containing 1.2 kg m-3 (NH4)2HPO4, 8.0 kg m-3 yeast extract, 10 kg m-3 glucose

and salt solution gave maximum β-lactamase production. In the study of Hemila

et al. (1992), the effect of glucose was investigated for improving β-lactamase

production in a strain of B.subtilis, and the addition of 60 kg m-3 glucose and 100

mM potassium phosphate was defined as the favorable condition for higher

yields and stability, but with the disadvantage of retardation of growth in the

exponential phase.

2.3.3 Bioreactor Operation Parameters

Bioreactor operation parameters i.e., oxygen transfer rate, pH, and

temperature influences the patterns of microbial growth and product formation.

2.3.3.1 Temperature

Temperature is an important factor affecting the performance of cells. As

the temperature is increased toward optimal growth temperature, the growth

rate approximately doubles for every 10°C increase in the temperature. Above

the optimal temperature range, the growth rate decreases and thermal death

may occur. Temperature also affects product formation. However, the

temperature optimum for growth and product formation may be different. When

temperature is increased above the optimum value, the maintenance

requirements of cells increase. The yield coefficient is also affected by

temperature (Shuler and Kargi, 1992).

In the literature concerning β-lactamase production, Wase and Patel (1987)

and Sargent et al. (1968) conducted β-lactamase production at T=30°C and

Sargantanis and Karim (1996, 1998) at T=37°C, without investigating the effect

of temperature. Bernstein et al. (1967) investigated the effect of temperature on

β-lactamase production in the range T=18°C-46°C, and reported that the basal

level of β-lactamase production in an inducible strain of B. cereus reaches a

maximum at T=42°C. They have also proposed that culturing at 42°C and

lowering the temperature to 37°C leads to an increase in β-lactamase production.

Kuennen et al. (1980) also investigated the effect of temperature, and reported

that β-lactamase activity was relatively constant when a constitutive strain of B.

Page 45: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

23

cereus was grown at a temperature range of 33°C to 42°C, above which a rapid

decrease in activity was observed. In the study with B.subtilis β-lactamase by

Hemila et al. (1992), it was concluded that in the range 27°C to 40°C, 30°C was

the optimum cultivation temperature for β-lactamase production. In a more

recent study, Çelik and Çalık (2004) investigated the effects of temperature in

the range T=29°C-37°C, and T=32°C was found to be the most favorable

condition for β-lactamase production by B.licheniformis.

2.3.3.2 pH

Microbial cells have a remarkable ability to maintain the intracellular pH at

a constant level even with large variations in the pH of the extracellular medium,

but only at the expense of a significant increase in the maintenance demands,

since Gibbs free energy has to be used for maintaining the proton gradient

across the cell membrane (Nielsen and Villadsen, 1994).

In most fermentation processes, pH can vary substantially. Often the

nature of the nitrogen source can be important. Also, pH can change due to the

production of organic acids, utilization of acids (particularly amino acids). Thus,

pH control by means of a buffer or an active pH control system can be

important depending on the nature of the bioprocess, since , some bioprocesses

require controlled pH conditions, while others might require uncontrolled pH

operations, in order to increase the product yield and selectivity (Çalık et

al.,2002).

In the study by Sargent et al. (1968), specific β-lactamase activity of cells

was shown to be constant irrespective of pH over the range of pH 5.5 to 7.5.

However, the fraction of the total enzyme secreted into the extracellular medium

was favorable around pH 7.5. In the study with B.subtilis β-lactamase by Hemila

et al. (1992), it was concluded that in the pH range 5.8 to 7.4, pH 6.0 was the

optimum cultivation pH for β-lactamase production. Sargantanis and Karim

(1996) stated that pH control was not beneficial for β-lactamase productivity,

and conducted their experiments at an initial pH of 7.0, without investigating its

effect (Çelik, 2003). In a more recent study, Çelik and Çalık (2004) investigated

the effects of pH in the range of 5.8 - 7.2 in media with NaH2PO4 - Na2HPO4

buffer having a buffering capacity of 0.02 M, and in media without buffer, where

the initial pH was set by the addition of either NaH2PO4 or Na2HPO4. The

Page 46: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

24

uncontrolled pH operation with an initial pH of 6.25 was found to be the most

favorable condition for β-lactamase production by B.licheniformis.

2.3.3.3 Oxygen Transfer Rate

Oxygen is an essential element for aerobic growth and product formation.

The transfer of oxygen into the microbial cell in aerobic fermentation processes

affects product formation by influencing metabolic pathways and changing

metabolic fluxes (Çalık et al., 1999). In general, according to cell growth

conditions and metabolic pathway analysis, some bioprocesses require high

oxygen transfer rate conditions while others require controlled oxygen transfer

rates in order to regulate oxygen uptake rates (Çalık et al., 1998). Oxygen

transfer rate can be adjusted by either changing the air inlet rate or agitation

rate.

In aerobic processes, oxygen is a key substrate and because of its low

solubility in aqueous solutions a continuous transfer of oxygen from the gas

phase to the liquid phase is decisive for maintaining the oxidative metabolism of

the cells. An overview of mass transfer phenomena in a fermentation process is

given in Figure 2.2, which summarizes all the individual steps involved in oxygen

transport from a gas bubble to the reaction site inside the individual cells (Bailey

and Ollis, 1986). The steps are:

1. Diffusion of oxygen from the bulk gas to the gas-liquid interface.

2. Transport across the gas-liquid interface.

3. Diffusion of oxygen through a relatively stagnant liquid region

adjacent to the gas bubble, i.e., from the gas-liquid interface to the

well-mixed bulk liquid.

4. Transport of oxygen through the well-mixed liquid to a relatively

unmixed liquid region surrounding the cells.

5. Diffusion through the stagnant region surrounding the cells

6. Transport from the liquid to the pellet, cell aggregate, etc.

Page 47: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

25

7. Diffusive transport of oxygen into the pellet, etc.

8. Transport across the cell envelope

9. Transport from the cell envelope to the intracellular reaction site, e.g.,

the mitochondria.

Figure 2.2 Overview of steps in the overall mass transfer of oxygen from a gas

buble to the reaction site inside the individual cells.

When cells are dispersed in the liquid, and the bulk fermentation broth is

well mixed, the transport through the well-mixed liquid is normally very rapid.

Furthermore steps five, six and seven are relevant only for processes in which

pellets or cell aggregates appear. Transport resistance within the cell is normally

also neglected, because of the small size of most cells (Nielsen and Villadsen

1994). Therefore mass transfer of gas to liquid, normally modeled by the two-

film theory, is of prime importance. An expression for oxygen transfer rate

(OTR) from gas to liquid is given by the following equation:

Page 48: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

26

)( *OOL CCaKOTR −= (2.9)

Since solubility of oxygen in aqueous solutions is very low, the liquid phase

mass transfer resistance dominates, and the overall mass transfer coefficient, KL,

is approximately equal to liquid phase mass transfer coefficient, kL.

The rate of oxygen transfer in fermentation broth is influenced by several

physical and chemical factors. These are bubble characteristics, rheological

properties of the medium, air inlet rate, agitation rate, antifoam agents,

temperature and the presence of cells and solutes that change either the value

of KLa, or the oxygen uptake rate of the cell. Therefore, oxygen uptake rate

(OUR) and volumetric mass transfer coefficient (KLa) are known as the oxygen

transfer characteristics.

a) Oxygen Uptake Rate

The rate at which oxygen is consumed by cells in fermenters determines

the rate at which it must be transferred from the gas to liquid. Many factors can

influence the total microbial oxygen demand. The more important of these are

cell species, culture growth phase, carbon nutrients, pH, and the nature of the

desired microbial process, i.e., substrate utilization, biomass production, or

product yield. The carbon nutrient affects oxygen demand in a major way. For

example, glucose is generally metabolized more rapidly than other carbohydrate

substances. The component parts of oxygen utilization by the cell include cell

maintenance, respiratory oxidation for further growth, and oxidation of

substrates into related metabolic end products. In examining metabolic

stoichiometry, oxygen utilization for growth is typically coupled directly to the

amount of carbon-source substrate consumed (Bailey and Ollis 1986). Oxygen

uptake rate (OUR), -r0, per unit volume of broth is given by

XCqr 00 =− (2.10)

where qo is the specific oxygen uptake rate, kg kg-1 DW h-1, Cx is the cell

concentration, kg DW m-3.

Page 49: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

27

For the design of aerobic biological reactors correlations of data more or

less approximating the situation of interest are frequently used to establish

whether the slowest process step is the oxygen transfer rate or the rate of

cellular utilization of oxygen (or other limiting substrate). The maximum possible

mass-transfer rate is simply that found by setting C0 = 0 in equation (2.9): all

oxygen entering the bulk solution is assumed to be rapidly consumed. The

maximum possible oxygen utilization rate can be found by the following

equation:

0/maxmax0 / Xx YCr µ=− (2.11)

Evidently, if maximum possible oxygen transfer rate is much larger than

maximum possible oxygen utilization rate, the main resistance to increased

oxygen consumption is microbial metabolism and the reaction appears to be

biochemically limited. Conversely, the reverse inequality apparently leads to C0

near zero, and the reactor seems to be in the mass-transfer-limited mode. The

situation is actually slightly more complicated. In general above some critical

bulk oxygen concentration the cell metabolic machinery is saturated with

oxygen. In this case, sufficient oxygen is available to accept immediately all

electron pairs which pass through the respiratory chain, so that some other

biochemical process within the cell is rate-limiting (Bailey and Ollis 1986).

b) Volumetric Mass Transfer Coefficient

The product of the overall mass transfer coefficient KL and the specific

interfacial area a is called the volumetric mass transfer coefficient KLa. Due to

the difficulties in the determination of KL and a individually, their product is

normally used to specify the gas-liquid mass transfer.

A large number of different empirical correlations for the volumetric mass

transfer coefficient KLa have been presented in the literature. Most of these

correlations can be written in the form:

αβ

sR

GL V

VP

kaK

= (2.12)

Page 50: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

28

where the parameters are specific for the considered system, i.e. for the

bioreactor design. Thus for different stirrers and different tank geometry the

parameter values may change significantly, and a certain set of parameters can

be reasonably used only when studying a system which the parameters were

originally derived. Some of the parameter values reported in the literature for

stirred tanks are listed in Table 2.5.

Page 51: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

29

Ref

eren

ce

Moo-Y

oung a

nd B

lanch

(1

981)

Linek

et

al.

(1987)

Moo-Y

oung a

nd B

lanch

(1

981)

van’t R

iet

(1979)

Moo-Y

oung a

nd B

lanch

(1

981)

Moo-Y

oung a

nd B

lanch

(1

981)

van’t R

iet

(1979)

Çalık

et

al.

(1998)

Agitat

or

Six

-bla

ded

Rush

ton

turb

ines

Six

-bla

ded

Rush

ton

turb

ines

Var

ious

agitat

ors

Not

spec

ifie

d

Six

-bla

ded

Rush

ton

turb

ines

Var

ious

agitat

ors

Not

spec

ifie

d

Not

spec

ifie

d

β 0.4

0.5

93

0.4

75

0.4

0.7

0.4

75

0.7

0.7

α 0.5

0.4

0.4

0.5

0.3

0.4

0.2

0.2

k 0.0

25

0.0

0495

0.0

1

0.0

26

0.0

018

0.0

2

0.0

02

0.0

0525

Eq #

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Tab

le 2

.5 P

aram

eter

val

ues

for

the

empiric

al c

orr

elat

ion o

f K

La.

Med

ium

Coal

esci

ng

Nonco

ales

cing

Page 52: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

30

Although KLa is difficult to predict, it is a measurable parameter. There are

several methods for measuring the volumetric mass transfer coefficient KLa for

oxygen. A few of the best known methods are Sulphite Method, Gas Analysis

Method and Dynamic Method.

Dynamic Method is a widely used simple method that can be applied during

a fermentation process to determine the value of KLa experimentally. The

method is based on an unsteady state mass balance for oxygen given by the

following equation:

XOOLO CqCCaK

dtdC

0* )( −−= (2.13)

As shown in Figure 2.3, at some time t0, the broth is de-oxygenated by

stopping the air flow. During this period, dissolved oxygen concentration, Co0,

drops, and since there is no oxygen transfer, equation (2.13) becomes:

0rdtdCO = (2.14)

Using equation (2.14) in region-II of Figure 2.3, oxygen uptake rate, -r0,

can be determined.

Air inlet is then turned back on, and the increase in CO is monitored as a

function of time. In this period, region-III, equation (2.13) is valid. Combining

equations (2.10) and (2.13) and rearranging,

*0 )(1

OO

LO Cr

dtdC

aKC +−−= (2.15)

From the slope of a plot of CO versus (dCO/dt – r0), KLa can be determined

(Figure 2.4).

Page 53: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

31

Figure 2.3 Variation of dissolved oxygen concentration with time in dynamic

measurement of KLa.

Figure 2.4 Evaluating KLa using the Dynamic Method

Co

(dCO/dt-rO)

Slope= -1/KLa

Air off

Air

I II III

Co

Co0

timet0 t1

Page 54: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

32

The Dynamic Method can also be applied to conditions under which there is

no reaction, i.e., r0=0 (Nielsen and Villadsen, 1994). In this case, the broth is

de-oxygenated by sparging nitrogen into the vessel. Air inlet is turned back on

and again the increase in Co is monitored as a function of time. Modifying

equation (2.15)

*1O

O

LO C

dtdC

aKC +−= (2.16)

From the slope of a plot of CO versus dCO/dt, the physical mass transfer

coefficient, KLa0, can be determined.

The effect of oxygen transfer conditions on β-lactamase production by

Bacillus species was investigated by Sargantanis and Karim (1996, 1998). They

mainly focused on the performance of dissolved oxygen (DO) control strategy,

and compared β-lactamase activities observed at different dissolved oxygen

levels, which were kept constant during the bioprocess using an adaptive pole

placement control algorithm. They performed the experiments at 3%, 5%, 8%

and 15% constant dissolved oxygen levels and reported the highest productivity

of β-lactamase at the highest DO level (15%), but that the rate of β-lactamase

degradation by proteases was the highest at this level also, without giving the

protease activities. Therefore, they concluded that β-lactamase production was

much higher at low DO levels (3%), although it occurred at a later stage of the

fermentation, and that limited growth conditions favored long-term β-lactamase

production.

In the recent study of Çelik and Çalık (2004), oxygen transfer

characteristics (-r0, KLa) of the bioprocess for β-lactamase production by

B.licheniformis were investigated in a semi-defined medium containing glucose,

(NH4)2HPO4, yeast extract and the salt solution, at pH0 = 6.0, T= 32°C at

Q0/V=0.5 vvm and N=500 min-1 oxygen transfer conditions and found that

throughout the bioprocess, overall oxygen transfer coefficient (KLa) varied

between 0.008-0.016 s-1; oxygen uptake rate varied between 0.001-0.003 mol

m-3 s-1.

Related with the production of other biomolecules using Bacillus

licheniformis, effects of oxygen transfer were investigated in the production of

Page 55: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

33

serine alkaline protease by Çalık et al. (1999) at nine different oxygen transfer

conditions by forming a 3x3 matrix using three agitation rates N=150, 500, 750

min-1 and three air inlet rates QO/VR=0.2, 0.5, 1.0 vvm with the initial substrate

concentration CC=9.0 kg m-3 by using a laboratory-scale 3.5 dm3 batch

bioreactor consisted of a system of working volume 2.0 dm3 equipped with two

four-blade Rushton turbines, and dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, foam, air–

inlet and stirring rate measurements and control. In the bioreactor the oxygen

uptake rate (OUR) values as well as the oxygen transfer rate (OTR) increased

with the increasing oxygen transfer, i.e. QO/VR and N, up to the medium oxygen

transfer condition, QO/VR= 0.5 vvm and N=750 min-1. Nevertheless, at higher

oxygen transfer conditions the cell growth, and consequently the OUR and OTR

decreased. The impact of the further increase in QO/VR and/or N after QO/VR=

0.5 vvm and N=750 min-1 condition increases the shear fields in the bioreactor;

and the exposure of the bacilli to higher shear fields at high oxygen transfer

conditions causes considerable dynamic influences that decrease the OUR as well

as the OTR and consequently perturbs the metabolism of B.licheniformis. With

the carbon source citrate, the consumption rate of the substrate increases with

increasing agitation rate and air inlet rate, and cell concentration was the highest

at low oxygen transfer condition.

2.4 Metabolic Flux Analysis

Metabolic flux analysis (MFA) is based on calculation of intracellular

reaction network rates through various reaction pathways -either theoretical or

by using elaborate experimental data on uptake, excretion, secretion rates,

biosynthetic requirements with metabolic stoichiometry- by solving the mass-

balance-based mathematical model developed for the bioreaction network

components, either at pseudo-steady state or at steady-state. MFA describes the

interactions between the cell and the bioreactor with proper emphasis on the

metabolic state and the metabolic process in order to fine-tune the bioreactor

performance. This analysis can be used to find the critical branch points and

bottlenecks in the overall flux distributions, for modifying the medium

composition, for improving the bioreactor operation conditions, moreover for

calculating the theoretical metabolic capacities of the microorganism, and for

selecting the host microorganism (Çalık et al., 2002).

Page 56: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

34

2.4.1 Modelling of Bioreaction Network for Metabolic Flux Analysis

Conceptually, the cell functions as the semibatch micro-bioreactor with

volume V wherein the biochemical reactions take place; and, a small number of

compounds of the intracellular biochemical reaction network (e.g substrates,

oxygen, H+, H2O, CO2, amino acids, organic acids of the glycolysis or

gluconeogenesis pathways and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and

extracellular proteins) is exchanged or transferred with facilitated and active

transport mechanisms between the metabolic system, and the bioreactor

medium which is defined as the environment. Therefore, the reactions that

represent the specific properties of the microorganism used should be studied;

consequently, an idea of the main biochemical processes that occur inside the

organism and an idea about the chemical reactants which are involved are

indeed needed. In order to describe the intracellular metabolic reaction network

in chemical detail by an increased number of reactions, of which the

stoichiometry is precisely known, the biochemical reactions of the biochemical

reaction network need to be determined and studied one-by-one. Consequently,

the biochemical reaction network, including the cell synthesis reaction using the

complete chemical composition data of the cell and the product synthesis

reaction, must be set up. Thus, starting from the site that the substrate(s)

enters into the carbon mechanism, the biochemical reaction network should

consider all the relevant bioreactions of the central carbon metabolism, i.e., the

glycolysis and the gluconeogenesis pathways, the pentose phosphate pathway

(PPP), the TCA cycle including the glyoxylate shunt, and the anaplerotic

reactions. The overall pathway can be simplified based on a comparison of the

extracellular growth compounds and the intracellular chemical compounds by

lumping some reactions into single ones without loosing representation accuracy.

Moreover, some major assumptions can also be incorporated in the model. In

this context in the second step, for the each metabolite of the intracellular

reaction network one equation is obtained which is defined as the algebraic sum

of all the conversions in the defined reactions and transport equals to the

accumulation of the intracellular metabolite in the micro-bioreactor (cell), as

follows (Çalık et al., 2002):

dtCdrr iTiRi /)(=± (2.17)

Page 57: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

35

where, rRi is the net-reaction and rTi is the net-transfer rate; and d(Ci)/dt is

the accumulation rate of the intracellular metabolite within cell. In the mass flux

balance-based analysis, equation (2.17) can be written in a vector form as

follows:

)()(* tctrA = (2.18)

where, A is the stochiometric coefficients matrix of the metabolic network, r(t)

is the vector of reaction fluxes and c(t) is the metabolite accumulation vector.

The elements of c(t) are divided into two subvectors.

)()()( 21 tctctc += (2.19)

where c1(t) and c2(t) corresponding to extracellular and intracellular metabolite

accumulation vectors, respectively. Due to the very high turnover of the pools of

most metabolites, the concentrations of the different metabolites pools rapidly

adjusted to new levels, even after large perturbations in the fermentation broth.

Therefore, it is reasonable to use the pseudo-steady state (PSS) approximation

for the intracellular metabolites, c2(t)=0. Thus, equation (2.18) can be written as

(Çalık et al., 2001):

)()(* 1 tctrA = (2.20)

For the corresponding vector equation (2.20), the stoichiometric coefficients

matrix of m x n need to be constructed, where m is the number of the

metabolites in the bioreaction network and n is the number of the reactions.

2.4.2 Solution of the Mathematical Model

The A matrix can be determined on the basis of the biochemistry of the

microorganism. If m > n the solution of the model gives the approximate exact

solution. The solution of equation 2.20 can be determined by a constrained least-

squares approach with the objective of minimising the sum of squares of

residuals from the stoichiometric mass balance. Nevertheless, if m<n, metabolic

flux distributions can be obtained by minimising or maximising the objective

function, whereupon the best metabolic pathway utilisation that would fulfill the

Page 58: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

36

stated objective is obtained. If m<n, the mathematical formulation for the

objective function Z is:

ii rZ α∑= (2.21)

where, Z is a linear combination of the fluxes ri , and αi is the coefficient of

the component-i in the stoichiometric equation of the corresponding reaction.

In least-squares method matrix is solved and a unique solution is obtained (Çalık

et al., 2002).

Metabolic flux analysis has been successfully applied to a number of

fermentation processes. In general, the literature reports on the metabolic flux

analysis for four enzymes, serine alkaline protease (SAP) (Çalık et al., 1999,

2001) , neutral protease (Çalık et al., 2001), amylase (Amy) (Çalık et al., 2001;

Nielsen et al., 1999), and glucoamylase (Nielsen et al., 1996).

Related with an enzyme production by Bacillus species, Bacillus

licheniformis (Çalık and Özdamar, 1999; Çalık et al., 1999, 2000, 2001), was the

only microorganism studied for the metabolic flux analysis. Çalık and Özdamar

(1999) investigated the biochemistry of Bacillus licheniformis and developed a

detailed mass flux balance-based stoichiometric model that contains m=105

metabolites and n=148 reaction fluxes to obtain the intracellular metabolic flux

distributions for serine alkaline protease production by using batch experimental

data in which citrate was used as the carbon source. The model was solved by

using simplex optimization algorithm in which the objective function was defined

as the difference between protease synthesis rate and protease secretion rate.

The results indicated that the intracellular amino acid fluxes played an important

role in the serine alkaline protease fermentation process. Çalık et al. (1999)

reported the influence of bioreactor operation conditions, i.e. the effects of

oxygen-transfer rate on the intracellular metabolic flux distributions, in

B.licheniformis under well-defined batch bioreactor conditions to evaluate the

effects on the metabolism of the bacilli in serine alkaline protease fermentation

process. They reported that the flux partitioning in the TCA cycle at α-

ketoglutarate towards glutamate group and at oxaloacetate towards aspartate

group amino acids were dependent mainly on the oxygen transfer rate,

moreover, the flux of the anaplerotic reactions that connects the TCA cycle either

Page 59: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

37

from malate or oxaloacetate to the gluconeogenesis pathway via the main

branch point pyruvate was also influenced by the oxygen transfer rate. Further,

with the decrease in the oxygen transfer rate, the intracellular flux values after

glycerate 3-phosphate in the gluconeogenesis pathway and the specific growth

rate decreased and the total ATP generation rate increased with the increase in

oxygen transfer rate. Lastly they mentioned that the pathway towards the

aspartic acid family amino acids which is important for sporulation that precedes

the serine alkaline protease synthesis were all active throughout the bioprocess.

Page 60: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

38

CHAPTER 3

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Chemicals

Benzylpenicillin (penicillin G) was purchased from Sigma Chemical

Company, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. All other chemicals were analytical grade,

and obtained either from Sigma Ltd., Difco Laboratories, or Merck Ltd.

3.2 The Microorganism

Bacillus licheniformis 749/C (ATCC 25972) was used as the microbial

source of β-lactamase (EC 3.5.2.6). The microorganisms, which were freeze

dried when received, were kept at -20ºC, and brought to an active state by

incubating for 30 min, at 30ºC, in a liquid medium, V=0.3ml, that contained (kg

m-3): soytryptone, 5; peptone, 5; MnSO4.2H2O, 0.010. Afterwards, the

microorganisms were inoculated onto a solid medium, and stored at 4ºC.

3.3 The Solid Medium

The microorganisms, stored on agar slants at 4ºC, were inoculated onto

the newly prepared agar slants under sterile conditions, and they were incubated

at 30ºC for 24h. The composition of the solid medium for β-lactamase production

by Bacillus sp. is given in Table3.1 (Çelik, 2003).

Table 3.1 The composition of the solid medium for Bacillus sp.

Compound Concentration, kg m-3

Soytryptone 5.00

Peptone 5.00

MnSO4.2H2O 0.01

Agar 15.00

Page 61: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

39

3.4 The Precultivation Medium

Microorganisms grown in the solid medium for 24 h, were inoculated into

precultivation medium, and incubated at 37ºC and N=200 min-1 for 3.5 h.

Microorganism growth was conducted in orbital shakers under agitation and

heating rate control, using air-filtered Erlenmeyer flasks 150 ml in size that had

working volume capacities of 33 ml. The composition of the precultivation

medium for cell growth and β-lactamase production is given in Table 3.2 (Çelik,

2003).

Table 3.2 The composition of the precultivation medium.

Compound Concentration, kg m-3

Soytryptone 15.0

Peptone 5.00

Na2HPO4 0.25

CaCl2 0.10

MnSO4.2H2O 0.01

3.5 The Production Medium

When the microorganism concentration in the precultivation medium

reached to 0.30 kg m-3, the microorganisms were inoculated to the production

medium, contained either in the laboratory scale bioreactor (V=150 ml) or pilot

scale bioreactor (V=3.0 dm3), with an inoculation ratio of 1/10.

Laboratory scale batch fermentations were conducted in agitation and

heating rate controlled orbital shakers at an agitation rate of 200 min-1 and a

cultivation temperature of 37ºC, using air filtered 150 cm3 shake bioreactor that

contained VR = 33 cm3 reference medium whose composition is given in Table

3.3 (Çelik, 2003), unless otherwise stated.

The laboratory scale experiment results enabled the design of the defined

medium for the β-lactamase production in terms of the initial carbon and

nitrogen source concentrations and bioreactor operation conditions. Pilot scale β-

lactamase fermentation were accomplished using this optimized medium in 3.0

Page 62: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

40

dm3 batch bioreactor (Braun CT2-2), having a working volume of 0.5-2.0 dm3

and a diameter of 12.1 cm, and consisting of temperature, pH, foam, stirring

rate and dissolved oxygen controls. The bioreactor utilized an external cooler,

steam generator and a jacket around the bioreactor for sterilization and

temperature control. The bioreactor was stirred with two four-blade Rushton

turbines with a diameter of 5.4 cm, and consisted of four baffles and a sparger.

All the medium components except the salt solution were steam sterilized

at 121°C for 20 min, glucose being sterilized separately. The micronutrients all

together, referred to as the salt solution, was filter sterilized with a sterile filter

of 0.2 µm pore size.

Table 3.3 The composition of the reference production medium.

Macronutrients Concentration, kg m-3

Glucose 8.0

(NH4)2HPO4 4.7

Micronutrients

(salt solution) Concentration, kg m-3

MgSO4.7H2O 0.25

FeSO4.7H2O 1.0 x 10-3

ZnSO4.7H2O 1.0 x 10-3

MnSO4.H2O 7.5 x 10-5

CuSO4.5H2O 1.0 x 10-5

3.6 Analysis

Throughout the bioprocess, samples were taken at different cultivation

times. After determining the cell concentration, the medium was centrifuged at

13500 min-1 for 10 min to separate the cells. Supernatant was used for the

determination of β-lactamase activity. In pilot scale experiments, besides β-

lactamase activity, cell, glucose, β-lactamase and SAP concentrations; amino

acid and organic acid concentrations were determined.

Page 63: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

41

3.6.1 Cell Concentration

Cell concentrations based on dry weights were measured with a UV-Vis

spectrophotometer (Thermo Spectronic, Heλios α) using a calibration curve

(Appendix A) obtained at 600 nm.

3.6.2 Beta-Lactamase Activity

Beta-lactamase activity was determined by measuring the hydrolysis of

benzylpenicillin. Samples from the culture broth was harvested by centrifugation

(Sigma 1-15) at 13,500 g for 10 min. Fresh substrate solutions were prepared

daily and maintained at 30°C, by dissolving 0.25 kg m-3 benzylpenicillin in 0.1 M

phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. 0.1 cm3 sample of centrifuged culture supernatant,

diluted properly, was added to 3 cm3 of substrate solution and immediately

analyzed, by following the change in absorbance in one minute at 232 nm with a

UV spectrophotometer (Thermo Spectronic, Heλios α) (Wase and Patel, 1987).

One unit of β-lactamase activity was defined as the amount of enzyme that could

hydrolyze 1µmol of benzylpenicillin at 30°C and pH 7.0 in one minute (Çelik,

2003), (Appendix B).

3.6.3 Beta-Lactamase and Serine Alkaline Protease Concentrations

β-lactamase and serine alkaline protease concentrations were determined

with a high performance capillary electrophoresis at 214 nm (Waters HPCE,

Quanta 4000E). The samples were analyzed at 12kV and 15°C with a negative

power supply by hydrostatic pressure injection, using an electrolyte containing

Z1-Methyl (Waters) salt in 100 mM borate buffer (Çalık et al., 1998). The

enzyme concentrations were calculated from the chromatogram, based on the

chromatogram of the standard enzyme solutions. The calibration curves for β-

lactamase and serine alkaline protease concentrations are given in Appendix C

and Appendix D respectively.

3.6.4 Reduced Sugar Concentration

Reduced sugar, glucose, concentration was determined by the DNS

(dinitrosalisylic acid) method (Miller, 1959) at 550 nm with a UV

spectrophotometer. The calibration curve and the preparation method of the

DNS solution are given in Appendix E and F, respectively. The method used in

analysis of samples and preparation of the calibration curve is given below:

Page 64: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

42

1. 3 cm3 of DNS solution was added into test tubes containing 1 cm3 of

sample at different glucose concentrations.

2. The test tubes were put into boiling water for 5 min and then into ice

for another 5 min.

3. The sample passing through the same steps but do not contain any

reducing sugar is used as blank and the absorbance values of the

samples were measured by a UV spectrophotometer at 550 nm (Çelik,

2003).

3.6.5 Amino Acid Concentrations

Amino acid concentrations were measured with an amino acid analysis

system (Waters, HPLC), using the Pico Tag method (Cohen, 1983). The method

is based on reversed phase HPLC, using a precolumn derivation technique with a

gradient program developed for amino acids. The amino acid concentrations

were calculated from the chromatogram, based on the chromatogram of the

standard amino acids solution. The analysis was performed under the conditions

specified below:

Column :Amino acid analysis column

(Nova-Pak C18, Millipore)

Column dimensions :3.9 mm x 30 cm

System :Reversed phase chromatography

Mobile phase flow rate :1 ml/min

Column temperature :38 °C

Detector and wavelength :UV/VIS, 254 nm

Injection volume :4 µl

Analysis period :20 min

3.6.6 Organic Acid Concentrations

Organic acid concentrations were determined with a high performance capillary

electrophoresis at 254 nm (Waters HPCE, Quanta 4000E). The samples were

analyzed at 20kV and 15°C with a negative power supply by hydrostatic pressure

Page 65: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

43

injection, using an electrolyte containing 5mM potassium hydrogen phtalate and

0.5mM OFM Anion Bt (Waters) as the flow modifier at pH=5.6 (for α-ketoglutaric

acid, acetic acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, oxalacetate

and gluconic acid) and at pH=7.0 (for, pyruvic acid, citric acid, lactic acid,

gluconic acid) ( Çalık et al., 1998).

3.6.7 Liquid Phase Mass Transfer Coefficient and Oxygen Uptake Rate

In order to determine the liquid phase mass transfer coefficient and oxygen

uptake rate in the β-lactamase production process, the Dynamic Method (Rainer

1990), as explained in section 2.3.3.3, was used.

Prior to inoculation of the microorganism to the production medium in the

bioreactor, the physical mass transfer coefficient (KLa0) was determined. After

inoculation of the microorganism to the bioreactor, the dynamic oxygen transfer

experiments were carried out at certain cultivation times for a short period of

time, so that the biological activities of the microorganisms are unaffected.

During this period, while the air inlet was totally ceased, the agitation rate was

lowered to N=100 min-1 in order to lower the effect of surface aeration (Çelik,

2003).

3.7 Mass Flux Balance-Based Analysis

Effects of the oxygen transfer conditions on the intracellular carbon flux

distributions were investigated by the metabolic flux analysis. The reaction

network of Bacillus licheniformis given in Appendix G represented by the

metabolic system sums up to a total of 105 metabolites and 149 reaction fluxes.

The optimized program GAMS 2.25 (General Algebraic Modeling System, GAMS

Development Corp., Washington, DC) was used to solve mass-flux balance

equation (Eq 2.20) given in Section 2.4. Using the mathematical programming,

optimum flux distributions were obtained by minimizing the objective function Z

(Eq 2.21). The model variables that are the reaction fluxes of metabolites were

expressed in mmol g-1 DW h-1; and the flux towards biomass represented the

specific growth rate, µ in h-1 (Çalık, 1998).

Page 66: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

44

CHAPTER 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This study focuses on the effects of oxygen transfer on β-lactamase

production by Bacillus licheniformis on a defined medium. In order to clarify the

oxygen transfer effects on the production of β-lactamase, firstly a glucose based

defined medium was designed and using this medium, the effects of bioreactor

operation parameters, i.e., pH and temperature, on β-lactamase activity and cell

formation were investigated in laboratory scale bioreactors. Thereafter, using the

optimized medium the effects of oxygen transfer on cell generation, substrate

consumption, product (β-lactamase) and by-products formation were

investigated in the pilot scale bioreactor. Finally, the influence of oxygen transfer

conditions on the intracellular reaction rates in β-lactamase production by

B.licheniformis under well-defined batch bioreactor conditions was investigated

using metabolic flux analysis to evaluate the effects of oxygen on the

metabolism.

4.1 Medium Design

In order to design a defined medium firstly yeast extract was omitted from

the medium found in the study of Çalık and Çelik (2004), and medium, that

contained (kg m-3): glucose, 8; (NH4)2HPO4, 4.7 and the salt solution in which

the β-lactamase activity was obtained as 60 U cm-3 was considered as the

starting point for the medium design experiments and the medium was named

as the reference production medium (RPM).

In this context, the effects of (NH4)2HPO4 concentration was investigated

in agitation and heating rate controlled laboratory scale bioreactors as it was

found as the optimum nitrogen source in the study of Çalık and Çelik (2004).

4.1.1 Effect of Nitrogen Source Concentration

Firstly, the effect of (NH4)2HPO4 concentration on β- lactamase activity

was investigated within the range corresponding to the initial nitrogen

Page 67: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

45

concentrations of CN0=0.0 – 4.0 kg m-3 at 37°C with an initial pH of pH0=7.2. As

can be seen from Figure 4.1 the medium containing initial nitrogen concentration

of 1.5 kg m-3 gave the maximum β-lactamase activity as A=76 U cm-3.

Furthermore, it was observed that higher nitrogen content had an inhibitory

effect on both cell formation and beta-lactamase activity.

0

20

40

60

80

0 1 2 3 4

Initial Nitrogen Concentration kg m-3

Act

ivity,

U c

m-3

Figure 4.1 The variations in β-lactamase activity with the initial nitrogen

concentration. t=32 h, V=33 cm3, T=37°C, pH0=7.2, N=200 min-1.

4.2 Bioreactor Operation Parameters

By using B.licheniformis 749/C and the medium containing 8 kg m-3

glucose, 7.1 kg m-3 (NH4)2HPO4 and the salt solution, the bioreactor operation

parameters, i.e., pH and temperature were investigated in the laboratory scale

bioreactors. Thereafter the effect of the initial glucose concentration was

investigated.

Page 68: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

46

4.2.1 Effect of pH and Temperature

The medium design experiments were conducted with an initial pH of 7.2 in

media without buffer. Under the scope of determining the most favorable

bioreactor operation conditions, the effect of pH control was investigated first,

since some bioprocesses require controlled pH conditions, while others might

require uncontrolled pH operations (Çalık et al.,2002).

The effect of pH control was investigated in an initial pH range of 5.8-8.0,

in media with NaH2PO4 - Na2HPO4 buffer, and in media without buffer, where the

initial pH was adjusted by the addition of either 5M KOH or 10M H3PO4.

Comparing the controlled and uncontrolled-pH operations; it can be observed at

pH0= 7.2-7.6 uncontrolled-pH operation favors β-lactamase production (Figure

4.2). As seen in Figure 4.2, the highest β-lactamase activity was obtained at

pH0=7.5 uncontrolled-pH operation, the activity value (A=113 U cm-3) obtained

was approximately 1.5-fold higher than that of pH0=7.2. Çalık and Çelik (2004);

and Sargantanis and Karim (1996) stated that controlled-pH operation was not

beneficial for β-lactamase productivity.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0

pH0

Act

ivity,

U c

m-3

Figure 4.2 The variations in β-lactamase activity with the initial pH. V=33 cm3,

T=37°C, N=200 min-1, t= 32 h, w/o buffer, (∆); buffer, (□).

Page 69: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

47

Thereafter, the effects of pH and temperature were investigated in the

medium without buffer. As seen in Figure 4.3, T=37°C, and pH0=7.5 were found

to be the most favorable conditions for β-lactamase activity. These results are

consistent with the pH and temperature range used in the literature for β-

lactamase production by Bacillus species (Sargent et al.,1968; Sargantanis and

Karim, 1996- 1998).

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

7.00 7.25 7.50 7.75 8.00pHo

Act

ivity,

U c

m-3

Figure 4.3 The variations in β-lactamase activity with the initial pH and

temperature of the cultivation medium. at t=32 h, V=33 cm3, N=200

min-1, T (°C) : 32 ,(♦); 37, ( ); 40, (▲).

4.2.2 Effect of Carbon Source Concentration

Glucose, being easily metabolized by microorganisms, is widely used in

fermentation media. The effects of glucose concentration on β-lactamase

production were investigated in the range of CG0=6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0,

and 12.0 kg m-3, in the medium containing 7.1 kg m-3 (NH4)2HPO4 and the salt

solution at a cultivation temperature of 37°C with an initial pH of 7.5. As can be

seen in Figure 4.4 the activity of β-lactamase did not change significantly in this

range and CG°=7 kg m-3 was selected as the initial glucose concentration to be

used in the pilot-scale bioreactor experiments.

Page 70: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

48

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

CG, kg m-3

Act

ivity,

U c

m-3

Figure 4.4 The variations in β-lactamase activity with the initial glucose

concentration. t=32 h, V=33 cm3, T=37°C, pH0 =7.2, N=200 min-1.

4.2.3 The Optimized Medium

As a result, among the investigated media, the highest β-lactamase activity

was obtained at T=37°C and pH0 =7.5 as 115 U cm-3, in the medium containing

7.0 kg m-3 glucose, 7.1 kg m-3 (NH4)2HPO4, and the salt solution which was 2

fold higher than the activity obtained in the RPM.

4.3 Effects of Oxygen Transfer

Using the optimized defined medium, T and pH conditions obtained in the

laboratory scale bioreactors the effects of oxygen transfer on fermentation and

oxygen transfer characteristics were investigated in the pilot scale bioreactor

system by using three agitation rates N = 250, 500, 750 min-1 and three air inlet

rates Q0/VR = 0.2, 0.5, 1 vvm. The effects of oxygen transfer were investigated

at seven different conditions with the above values of the Q0/VR and N. These

conditions were abbreviated as given in Table 4.1 according to the oxygen-

transfer conditions applied. Throughout the bioprocess, dissolved oxygen, pH,

glucose concentration, cell concentration, β-lactamase activity, amino acid and

organic acid concentrations, liquid phase mass transfer coefficient, specific rates

and yield coefficients were determined.

Page 71: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

49

Table 4.1 Oxygen transfer conditions

# Q0/VR, vvm N, min-1 Abbreviation

1 0.2 250 LimOT

2 0.5 250 LOT1

3 0.2 500 LOT2

4 0.5 500 MOT1

5 0.2 750 MOT2

6 1.0 500 HOT1

7 0.5 750 HOT2

4.3.1 Dissolved Oxygen Concentration and pH Profiles

The variations in dissolved oxygen concentration (CO) and medium pH with

the cultivation time, air inlet rate, and agitation rate are shown in Figure 4.5 and

4.6, respectively. CO depends on the extent of the OTR to the media and the

OUR of the cells. When the OTR was very low, i.e. at LimOT and to an extent at

LOT1 conditions the CO exhibited a sudden drop at the early hours of the

fermentation and at t= 1-27 h for LimOT and, at t=2-10.5 h for LOT1 the

transferred oxygen was totally consumed. When the OTR was higher, i.e., at

LOT2, MOT1, and MOT2 conditions, a decrease and/or an increase in the dissolved

oxygen level with cultivation time was observed depending on the metabolic

stage of the growth. Further, at HOT1 and HOT2 conditions, although the biomass

concentration increased, CO did not change considerably throughout the

bioprocess as the OTR was high enough. Considering the CO profiles, Q0/VR = 0.2

vvm and N =250 min-1 (LimOT) is regarded as “limited-oxygen transfer”

condition; Q0/VR = 0.5 vvm and N =250 min-1 (LOT1), and Q0/VR = 0.2 vvm and

N =500 min-1 (LOT2) are regarded as “low-oxygen transfer” conditions; Q0/VR =

0.5 vvm and N =500 min-1 (MOT1), Q0/VR = 0.2 vvm and N =750 min-1 (MOT2)

are regarded as “medium oxygen transfer” conditions; and lastly Q0/VR = 1.0

vvm and N =500 min-1 (HOT1) and Q0/VR = 0.5 vvm and N =750 min-1 (HOT2)

are regarded as “high-oxygen transfer” condition.

The initial pH value was pH0=7.5 for all the conditions. The locus of pH

versus time profiles were similar at LOT2, MOT1, MOT2, HOT1, and HOT2

conditions, and pH has a tendency to decrease until t=10 h; thereafter, it

Page 72: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

50

reached to the stationary phase. However, at LOT1 and LimOT conditions the

decrease rate of pH was higher than the other conditions. At LimOT condition

where the lowest pH was observed, the pH of the fermentation broth decreased

until t= 12 h; whereas, at t=12-19 h it was constant; and after t=19 h pH

increased.

0.00

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

0.20

0 5 10 15 20 25 30t,h

C0,

mol m

-3

Figure 4.5 The variations in dissolved oxygen concentration with cultivation

time. T=370C, C0*= 0.20 mol m-3, VR= 1.65 * 10-3 m3. LimOT: (●);

LOT1:(▲); LOT2: ( ); MOT1: (○); MOT2: (∆); HOT1: (□); HOT2: (x).

In the literature, Çelik and Çalık (2004) reported the variations in pH and

dissolved oxygen profiles throughout the β-lactamase production process at

320C, pH0 = 6.0, N=500 min-1, and Q0/VR = 0.5 vvm in the semi-defined

medium. In the above study, pH decreased until t=4.5 h to pH=5.8, thereafter it

increased and reached a constant value of pH= 7.6. The CO decreased suddenly

at the early stage of the fermentation and at t= 4.5-7 h the transferred oxygen

was totally consumed. Thereafter, the CO gradually increased. The CO profile

obtained by Çelik and Çalık (2004) and CO obtained in this work at MOT1

condition (N=500 min-1, and Q0/VR = 0.5 vvm) were similar; however, between

Page 73: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

51

t=4.5-7 h because of the higher cell concentration obtained by Çelik and Çalık

(2004) the transferred oxygen was totally consumed; whereas, in this study the

dissolved oxygen concentration decreased until t=4 h and then increased.

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30t,h

pH

Figure 4.6 The variations in medium pH with cultivation time. CG0 = 7.0 kg m-3,

T=370C, VR= 1.65 * 10-3 m3. LimOT: (●); LOT1:(▲); LOT2: ( ); MOT1:

(○); MOT2: (∆); HOT1: (□); HOT2: (x).

4.3.2 Glucose Concentration Profiles

Variations in the glucose concentration with the cultivation time, air inlet

rate, and agitation rate are given in Figure 4.7. Glucose concentration (CG0 = 7.0

kg m-3), decreased with the cultivation time, as expected. At the end of the

bioprocesses, the lowest amount of glucose was attained at LimOT and MOT1

conditions that correspond to the consumption of %91.5 of the initial glucose.

However the rate of glucose consumption was the highest:

1. at t=0-2 h at LOT1 condition,

2. at t= 2-5 h at LimOT condition;

Page 74: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

52

3. at t= 5-11 h at HOT2 condition;

4. at t= 11-20 h at LOT2 condition;

5. at t= 20-28 h at MOT1 condition.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 5 10 15 20 25 30t,h

CG,

kg m

-3

Figure 4.7 The variations in glucose concentration with cultivation time.

CG0=7.0 kg m-3, T=37°C, VR= 1.65 * 10-3 m3. LimOT: (●); LOT1:(▲);

LOT2: ( ); MOT1: (○); MOT2: (∆); HOT1: (□); HOT2: (x).

4.3.3 Cell Concentration Profiles

The variations in the cell concentration with cultivation time and the

oxygen transfer conditions applied are given in Figure 4.8. Cell concentration

increased at a high rate between t=2-7 h, and then reached the stationary

phase. The highest cell concentrations were obtained at MOT2 and HOT2

conditions as CX= 0.67 kg m-3 and the lowest cell concentration was obtained at

LimOT and HOT1 as CX= 0.54 kg m-3.

Page 75: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

53

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12t,h

Cx,

kg m

-3

Figure 4.8 The variations in cell concentration with cultivation time. CG0=7.0 kg

m-3 T=37°C, VR= 1.65 * 10-3 m3. LimOT: (●); LOT1:(▲); LOT2: ( );

MOT1: (○); MOT2: (∆); HOT1: (□); HOT2: (x).

4.3.4 Beta-lactamase Activity Profiles

The variations in β-lactamase activity with the cultivation time, air inlet rate

and agitation rate are given in Figure 4.9. As can be seen from Figure 4.9 the

lowest β-lactamase activity was obtained at LimOT condition where the lowest

cell concentration was obtained. At MOT1 condition β-lactamase activity was

higher than the other conditions throughout the process but at t=24 h LOT2 and

MOT1 gave all most the same β-lactamase activity values ca. A=90 U cm-3. In

the process the cultivation time in which the highest β-lactamase activity was

obtained shifted 1.33-fold to an earlier cultivation time (t=24h) compared to the

laboratory scale experiments (t=32h) with a cost of 22 % lower activity.

Page 76: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

54

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 5 10 15 20 25 30t,h

A,

U c

m-3

Figure 4.9 The variations in β-lactamase activity with cultivation time. CG0=7.0

kg m-3, T=37°C, VR= 1.65 * 10-3 m3. LimOT: (●); LOT1:(▲); LOT2: ( );

MOT1: (○); MOT2: (∆); HOT1: (□); HOT2: (x).

4.3.5 Amino Acid Concentrations

The oxygen transfer conditions influenced the amino acids synthesis and

their concentrations in the fermentation broth, as the synthesis of some of them

might be the rate limiting step(s) in the metabolic reaction network in β-

lactamase synthesis. For the production of proteins, regulation of the metabolic

reaction network should cause good coupling of supply and demand for the

amino acids (Çalık et al., 2000).

The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation broth

with cultivation time and for seven different oxygen transfer conditions applied

were given in Table 4.2.a, 4.2.b, 4.2.c, 4.2.d, 4.2.e, 4.2.f, 4.2.g. At all the

oxygen transfer conditions, generally aspartic acid and the asparagine were the

amino acids detected in the broth.

At LimOT condition all the amino acids but glutamic acid, histidine,

proline, tyrosine, valine, methionine, cystein, isoleucine and lysine were present

Page 77: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

55

in the fermentation broth. Nevertheless, at LOT1 condition besides these amino

acids; phenlylalanine was not present in the fermentation broth; while at LOT2

condition arginine, threonine, alanine, valine, methionine, cystein, ornithine,

tyrptophan and lysine were not detected in the fermentation broth. At MOT1

condition glutamic acid, threonine, alanine, tyrosine, isoleucine, leucine and

lysine; at MOT2 condition glutamic acid, glycine, threonine, alanine, tyrosine,

ornithine, tyrptophan and lysine; at HOT1 condition glutamic acid, threonine,

alanine, tyrosine, isoleucine, leucine and lysine and lastly at HOT2 condition

glutamic acid, tyrosine, valine, methionine, cystein isoleucine and lysine were

not present in the fermentation broth. In general the amino acid concentrations

in the fermentation broth was low and considering all the amino acid profiles and

oxygen transfer conditions, arginine concentration was the highest at LimOT

condition obtained as 0.072 kg m-3 at t=3 h.

As it is seen from the Table 4.2.a, 4.2.b, 4.2.c, 4.2.d, 4.2.e, 4.2.f, and

4.2.g the total amino acid concentration excreted to the fermentation broth was

maximum at LOT2 condition at t=24 h as TAA = 0.133 kg m-3 and minimum at

HOT1 condition at t=20 h as TAA = 0.001 kg m-3. At LimOT condition (Table

4.2.a) total amino acid concentration decreased sharply between t=3-5 h and

then it was almost constant throughout the fermentation at 0.010 kg m-3,

nevertheless at LOT1 condition (Table 4.2.b) it increased between t=3-11 and

gave a maximum at t=11 h and then decreased until t=20 h and reached a

constant value between t= 20-24 h. At MOT1 condition (Table 4.2.c) total amino

acid concentration decreased between t=3-11 h and then increased and gave a

maximum at t= 20 h. In general at HOT1 and HOT2 conditions total amino acid

concentrations were less than the other conditions and these conditions showed

similar profiles that is, total amino acid concentration decreased between t=3-20

h and then showed a little increase between t= 20-24 h.

Page 78: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

56

Table 4.2.a The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation

broth with the cultivation time at LimOT condition.

Cultivation time, h

CAA, kg m-3 3 5 11 20 24

Asn 0.003 0.002 0.003 0.004

Asp 0.004 0.007

Gln 0.001

Ser 0.002

Gly 0.006 0.003

Arg 0.072

Thr 0.003

Ala 0.003

Leu 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003

Phe 0.007

Trp 0.007

Total 0.101 0.007 0.005 0.012 0.014

Table 4.2.b The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation

broth with the cultivation time at LOT1 condition.

Cultivation time, h

CAA, kg m-3 3 5 11 20 24

Asn 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.010

Asp 0.001 0.005 0.002 0.007

Gln 0.001 0.003 0.002 0.001

Ser 0.001 0.002 0.002

Gly 0.003 0.001 0.006 0.003

His

Arg 0.014

Thr 0.001 0.010

Ala 0.009

Leu 0.004 0.006 0.007 0.006 0.006

Phe

Trp 0.028 0.010 0.003

Total 0.009 0.040 0.068 0.020 0.024

Page 79: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

57

Table 4.2.c The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation

broth with the cultivation time at LOT2 condition.

Cultivation time, h

CAA, kg m-3 3 5 11 20 24

Asn 0.003 0.006 0.006

Asp 0.003 0.006 0.006 0.022

Glu 0.007 0.013

Gln 0.003

Ser 0.002

Gly 0.002 0.003

His 0.034

Pro 0.004 0.011

Tyr 0.006

Ile 0.004 0.023

Leu 0.003 0.005 0.010

Phe 0.003 0.003

Total 0.006 0.012 0.009 0.028 0.133

Table 4.2.d The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation

broth with the cultivation time at MOT1 condition.

Cultivation time, h

CAA, kg m-3 3 5 11 20 24

Asn 0.009 0.002 0.001 0.003 0.002

Asp 0.003 0.002 0.003 0.025 0.004

Gln 0.001

Ser 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001

Gly 0.001 0.001 0.001

His 0.008 0.003

Arg 0.008

Pro 0.007 0.018

Val 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.005 0.003

Met 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.005 0.003

Cys 0.002 0.003 0.002 0.006 0.002

Phe 0.005 0.006 0.004

Trp 0.002 0.001

Total 0.035 0.030 0.022 0.066 0..019

Page 80: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

58

Table 4.2.e The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation

broth with the cultivation time at MOT2 condition.

Cultivation time, h

CAA, kg m-3 3 5 11 20 24

Asn 0.008 0.004 0.004

Asp 0.005

Gln 0.001

His 0.017 0.008

Arg 0.028

Pro 0.003 0.003

Val 0.006 0.001

Met 0.006

Cys 0.001

Leu 0.004 0.002 0.003

Phe 0.004

Total 0.041 0.046 0.002 0.009 0.010

Table 4.2.f The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation

broth with the cultivation time at HOT1 condition.

Cultivation time, h

CAA, kg m-3 3 5 11 20 24

Asn 0.005 0.002 0.007

Asp 0.012

Gly 0.001 0.002

His 0.003

Arg 0.018

Thr 0.003 0.001

Ala 0.004 0.001

Pro 0.006

Ile 0.001 0.002

Leu 0.001

Phe 0.001 0.002 0.001 0.002

Total 0.031 0.020 0.011 0.001 0.012

Page 81: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

59

Table 4.2.g The variations in amino acid concentrations in the fermentation

broth with the cultivation time at HOT2 condition.

Cultivation time, h

CAA, kg m-3 3 5 11 20 24

Asn 0.002 0.001 0.001 0.003 0.003

Asp 0.002 0.003 0.002

Gln 0.001

Gly 0.005 0.002

His 0.001

Arg

Thr 0.002 0.001

Ala 0.001

Leu 0.007 0.007 0.008 0.007

Phe 0.004

Trp 0.006 0.002 0.002

Total 0.028 0.011 0.011 0.006 0.017

4.3.6 Organic Acid Concentrations

Since oxygen acts as the driving force in the TCA cycle and the rate of the

TCA cycle is influenced by the oxygen transfer conditions in the metabolic

reaction network (Çalık et al., 2000), the synthesis of the TCA cycle organic

acids, acetic acid and lactic acid are important for increasing the yield and the

selectivity. At all the oxygen transfer conditions, generally acetic acid and lactic

acid are the organic acids detected in the broth at high concentrations. The

variations of organic acid concentrations with the cultivation time and oxygen-

transfer conditions are shown in Table 4.3. At LimOT condition, at t=3, 5, 11, 20

h, the organic acid having the highest concentration was lactic acid in contrast to

the other oxygen transfer conditions applied, as at all the others acetic acid was

the main organic acid excreted to the fermentation broth. At LimOT condition at

t=11 h lactic acid was excreted having the concentration of 1.464 kg m-3 which

was the highest value obtained throughout the bioprocesses.

Page 82: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

60

Table 4.3 The variations in organic acid concentrations in the fermentation

broth with the cultivation time at LimOT, LOT1, LOT2 MOT1, MOT2,

HOT1, and HOT2 conditions.

Condition T

(h) COA, kg m-3

Cit αKG Suc Ac Lac But Gluc

3 0.267 0.325

5 0.507 1.112 0.003

11 0.009 0.020 0.344 1.464

20 0.176 0.899 1.436 0.002 LimOT

24 1.290 0.968

3 0.391 0.185

5 0.664 0.667 0.002

11 0.007 0.987 0.636

20 0.013 0.577 0.386

LOT1

24 0.007 0.362 0.218

3 0.339 0.041

5 0.620 0.035

11 0.667 0.012

20 0.405 LOT2

24 0.241

3 0.432 0.010 0.006

5 0.553 0.017 0.009

11 0.016 0.550 0.020 0.023

20 0.675 0.061 0.019 MOT1

24 0.392 0.043 0.006

3 0.607

5 0.858 0.006

11 1.248

20 0.548 0.002 MOT2

24 0.508 0.025

3 0.642 0.006

5 0.647 0.001

11 1.254 0.019

20 0.811 0.011 HOT1

24 0.592 0.029

3 0.616 0.049 0.030

5 0.719 0.009 0.004

11 0.688 0.017

20 0.664 0.046 0.021 HOT2

24 0.324 0.028

Page 83: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

61

The variations in total organic acid concentration with the cultivation time

and the oxygen transfer conditions are given in Figure 4.10. As it is seen in the

figure, the total organic acid concentration excreted to the fermentation broth

was maximum at LimOT condition at t=20 h as TOA = 2.513 kg m-3, explaining

the reason of the highest rate of decrease in the medium pH at these condition

and minimum at HOT2 condition at t=24 h as TOA = 0.352 kg m-3. Total organic

acid concentrations as well as the non-detected organic acids can be seen in

Table 4.4. As it is clear in Table 4.4 at LOT2, MOT1, MOT2, HOT1 and HOT2

conditions, the TCA cycle organic acids α-ketoglutaric acid and succinic acid were

not detected in the fermentation broth. Nevertheless, under LimOT condition α-

ketoglutaric and succinic acids and under LOT1 condition succinic acid were

excreted to the fermentation broth. Under the lower range of oxygen transfer

conditions, LimOT and LOT1, due to the insufficient operation of TCA cycle α-

ketoglutaric and succinic acids were excreted to the fermentation broth.

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

0 5 10 15 20 25t,h

TO

A,

kg m

-3

Figure 4.10 The variations in total organic acid concentration with cultivation

time. CG0=7.0 kg m-3, T=37°C, VR= 1.65 * 10-3 m3. LimOT: (●);

LOT1:(▲); LOT2: ( ); MOT1: (○); MOT2: (∆); HOT1: (□); HOT2: (x).

Page 84: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

62

Table 4.4 The variations of total organic acid concentration and non-excreted

organic acids with the constant air inlet and agitation rates.

Oxygen-transfer

condition

TOA (kg m-3)

Non-excreted organic acids

LimOT 0.592-2.513 citric, pyruvic, gluconic acids

LOT1 0.576-1.630 citric, pyruvic, α-KG, gluconic acids

LOT2 0.268-0.679 citric, pyruvic, α-KG, gluconic, succinic acids

MOT1 0.441-0.755 pyruvic, α-KG, succinic acids

MOT2 0.533-1.248 citric, pyruvic, α-KG, lactic, succinic acids

HOT1 0.621-1.273 citric, pyruvic, α-KG, lactic, succinic acids

HOT2 0.352-0.732 citric, pyruvic, α-KG, succinic acids

4.3.7 Oxygen Transfer Characteristics

In β-lactamase production by Bacillus licheniformis in a defined medium,

the Dynamic Method was applied to find the oxygen transfer parameters, i.e.,

oxygen uptake rate (OUR), r0, and oxygen transfer coefficient, KLa, during the

cultivation times corresponding to the characteristic regions of the batch

bioprocess, for different oxygen transfer conditions applied. At t<0 h, the

physical oxygen transfer coefficient KLao was measured in the medium in the

absence of the microorganism. The variations in KLa, oxygen uptake rate,

oxygen transfer rate and the enhancement factor E (=KLa/KLao) throughout the

bioprocess are given in Table 4.5.a and 4.5.b. As dissolved oxygen concentration

in the medium was very low between t=1-27 h at LimOT, between t=2-11 h at

LOT1, between t=1-8 h at LOT2 conditions, the Dynamic Method could not be

applied. For LimOT, LOT1, and LOT2 conditions the following assumption was

used :

* E=1 and KLa0=KLa,

to calculate the OTR. When mass transfer is accompanied by a chemical

reaction, enhancement factor can be enhanced several-fold depending on the

relative rates of mass transfer and chemical reaction; therefore, obtained OTR

values can be considered as the lowest OTR values.

Page 85: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

63

4.3.7.1 Volumetric Oxygen Transfer Coefficient

As can be seen from Table 4.5.a and Table 4.5.b, throughout the

bioprocess in general KLa increased and then decreased at MOT1 and MOT2

conditions; however, at LOT1, LOT2, HOT1, and HOT2 it gradually increased with

the residence time. KLa depends on agitation rate, temperature, rheological

properties of the fermentation medium, and presence of fine particles in the

mass transfer zone. Since temperature and agitation rate were kept constant

throughout the bioprocess, the reason for the change in KLa could be the change

in the viscosity of the medium due to the secreted metabolites and growth.

Average KLa value increased with the increase in the agitation and aeration

rates as expected and when compared with the gas flow rate, the agitation rate

was a more effective parameter for increasing the oxygen transfer coefficient.

The highest oxygen transfer coefficient was obtained at HOT2 condition as 0.044

s-1 at t=2 and t=20 h of the cultivation time.

In general the enhancement factors E were slightly higher than 1.0,

showing that a slow reaction is accompanied by mass transfer as expected in

most of the fermentation processes accomplished in stirred bioreactors and they

did not show a significant difference at oxygen transfer conditions applied and

changed in the range E= 1.0-2.1.

The KLa values were also calculated from the correlations (Eq 4.1) with

the corresponding constants given in Table 2.5. The variations in oxygen transfer

coefficients obtained from correlations with the average experimental values are

given in Table 4.6. There is a fairly good agreement between the experimental

and correlated values for coelescing bubbles (Eq 1-4) given by Moo-Young and

Blanch (1981), within the agitation and air-inlet rate range used. Average

experimental values were used for comparison because of the dynamic behavior

of the fermentation media, which could not be correlated for the entire

fermentation process.

αβ

sR

GL V

VP

kaK

= (4.1)

Page 86: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

64

In the calculations, the power input PG in aerated stirred liquid was

calculated from the following correlation (Rose, 1981):

AeFrDDPP DDIG

I /95.1115.038.4 Re)/(192)/log( −= (4.2)

The power input in gas free stirred liquid was calculated from the Equation

4.5 given below (Nielsen and Villadsen, 1994):

53Ilp DNNP ρ= (4.3)

The power number was obtained from Reynolds number versus Power

number graph given in Figure 4.11 (Nielsen and Villadsen, 1994).

Figure 4.11 Correlation between the power number and the reynolds number

for a bioreactor system with one-six bladed Rushton turbine impeller

and baffles.

Page 87: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

65

4.3.7.2 Oxygen Uptake Rate

Increase in substrate consumption rate, cell concentration, and cell

production rate, increased the oxygen uptake rate (OUR), which depends on the

metabolic functions of the cell.

As expected, at the early stage of the fermentation OUR tend to increase at

all conditions, mainly as a result of increase in the cell production rate, the cell

concentration and the substrate consumption rates. Generally, after t=11 h as

the biomass production rate decreased, OUR also decreased. The highest OUR

was observed at LOT2 condition at t=5 h as 1.6*10-3 mol m-3s-1.

In order to compare mass transfer and biochemical reaction rates in the β-

lactamase production process by B. licheniformis which was investigated under

seven different constant oxygen transfer conditions, the maximum possible

oxygen utilization rate (OD=µmaxCX/YX/O) and the maximum possible mass

transfer rate (OTRmax=KLaCO*) were calculated throughout the bioprocess. A kind

of Damköhler number, Da, defined as maximum possible oxygen utilization rate

per maximum mass transfer rate (Çalık et al., 2000 and 2003); and

effectiveness factor, η, defined as the oxygen uptake rate per maximum possible

oxygen utilization rate values (Çalık et al., 2000 and 2003) can be seen in Table

4.5.a and 4.5.b.

It is clear in Table 4.5.a that, LimOT, LOT1 and LOT2 conditions, were

mass-transfer limited conditions (Da>>1). While, at MOT1, MOT2, HOT1, and

HOT2 conditions, at=2-8 h the mass-transfer resistance was more effective

(Da>>1).

As it is apparent from Table 4.5.a and Table 4.5.b, the high effectiveness

factor, η, values until t=5 h indicate that the cells are consuming oxygen with

such a high rate that maximum possible oxygen utilization (OD) value is

approached and thereafter the decrease in η indicates that the cells are

consuming lower oxygen than the oxygen demand (OD).

Page 88: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

66

η

OU

R/O

D

0.3

36

0.1

73

0.0

18

0.3

61

0.0

80

0.6

56

0.0

49

0.0

16

Da

OD

/OTR

max

2.9

32

5.7

65

55.3

18

2.7

37

12.2

93

0.9

91

16.3

63

31.7

20

O

D*10

3

(mol m

-3s-1

)

4.1

05

8.0

71

77.4

45

4.3

80

19.6

68

1.9

83

32.7

25

63.4

40

O

UR*10

3

(mol m

-3s-1

)

1.3

79

1.3

93

1.3

79

1.3

86

1.3

93

1.3

86

1.4

00

1.5

76

1.5

76

1.5

76

1.1

39

0.5

00

0.5

00

0.4

00

1.3

00

1.6

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

0.8

00

0.7

00

0.7

00

O

TR

max

*10

3

(mol m

-3s-1

)

1.4

00

1.4

00

1.4

00

1.4

00

1.4

00

1.4

00

1.4

00

1.6

00

1.6

00

1.6

00

1.6

00

2.8

40

2.8

00

3.3

20

2.0

00

2.0

00

2.0

00

2.6

00

2.8

20

3.2

60

4.2

00

O

TR*10

3

(mol m

-3s-1

)

1.3

79

1.3

93

1.3

79

1.3

86

1.3

93

1.3

86

1.4

00

1.5

76

1.5

76

1.5

76

1.1

39

1.7

89

1.8

00

1.5

94

1.2

20

1.5

96

1.0

92

1.0

43

0.9

48

0.9

19

1.2

18

E

KLa

/KLa

0

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.7

75

1.7

50

2.0

75

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.3

00

1.4

10

1.6

30

2.1

00

K

La

(s-1

)

0.0

07

0.0

07

0.0

07

0.0

07

0.0

07

0.0

07

0.0

07

0.0

08

0.0

08

0.0

08

0.0

08

0.0

14

0.0

14

0.0

17

0.0

10

0.0

10

0.0

10

0.0

13

0.0

14

0.0

16

0.0

21

t (h)

2*

5*

8*

11*

20*

24*

28*

2*

5*

8*

11*

20

24

28

2*

5*

8*

11

20

24

28

Tab

le 4

.5.a

The

variat

ions

in o

xygen

tra

nsf

er p

aram

eter

s w

ith c

ultiv

atio

n t

ime

at L

imO

T.

LOT

1 a

nd L

OT

2 c

onditio

ns

Conditio

n

LIM

OT

LOT

1

LOT

2

Page 89: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

67

η

OU

R/O

D

0.4

65

0.0

60

0.4

12

0.1

25

0.6

07

0.1

25

0.0

52

0.9

62

0.0

33

Da

OD

/OTR

max

0.6

12

5.1

42

0.6

07

2.7

14

0.4

77

1.6

79

3.5

12

0.1

17

5.1

70

OD

*10

3

(mol m

-3s-1

) 1.9

34

18.3

04

2.4

27

12.0

34

1.8

11

6.3

79

13.3

47

1.0

40

36.1

92

OU

R*10

3

(mol m

-3s-1

) 0.9

00

1.1

00

1.0

00

0.9

00

0.9

00

0.9

00

0.9

00

1.0

00

1.5

00

1.3

00

1.2

00

1.0

00

0.8

00

0.8

00

1.1

00

0.8

00

0.7

00

0.6

00

0.6

00

0.6

00

0.6

00

1.0

00

1.2

00

0.9

00

0.9

00

0.9

00

OTRm

ax*10

3

(mol m

-3s-1

) 3.1

60

3.5

60

5.2

40

5.2

40

4.0

00

4.4

00

4.4

00

4.0

00

4.4

34

4.6

00

4.7

80

4.7

20

6.6

00

5.5

00

3.8

00

3.8

00

3.8

00

3.8

00

4.0

00

5.8

00

7.2

00

8.8

60

7.0

00

6.0

40

5.8

00

8.8

00

OTR*10

3

(mol m

-3s-1

) 1.0

55

1.8

08

1.9

96

1.4

83

1.1

12

1.1

62

1.2

14

0.7

52

1.3

30

2.0

70

1.2

43

1.0

38

0.9

04

0.7

98

0.7

60

1.0

28

1.0

11

1.0

48

0.3

52

0.8

29

0.9

36

0.7

53

0.2

94

1.0

45

0.6

38

1.0

21

E

KLa

/KLa

0

1.0

90

1.2

28

1.8

07

1.8

07

1.3

79

1.5

17

1.5

17

1.0

58

1.1

73

1.2

17

1.2

65

1.2

49

1.7

46

1.4

55

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

00

1.0

53

1.5

26

1.8

95

1.7

58

1.3

89

1.1

98

1.1

51

1.7

46

KLa

(s

-1)

0.0

16

0.0

18

0.0

26

0.0

26

0.0

20

0.0

22

0.0

22

0.0

20

0.0

22

0.0

23

0.0

24

0.0

24

0.0

33

0.0

28

0.0

19

0.0

19

0.0

19

0.0

19

0.0

20

0.0

29

0.0

36

0.0

44

0.0

35

0.0

30

0.0

29

0.0

44

t (h)

2

5

8

11

20

24

28

2

5

8

11

20

24

28

2

5

8

11

20

24

28

2

5

8

11

20

Tab

le 4

.5.b

The

variat

ions

in o

xygen

tra

nsf

er p

ara

met

ers

with t

he

cultiv

ation t

ime

at M

OT

1.

MO

T2.

HO

T1 a

nd H

OT

2 c

onditio

ns.

Conditio

n

MO

T1

MO

T2

HO

T1

HO

T2

Page 90: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

68

Eq 8

0.0

46

0.0

53

0.1

94

0.2

15

0.2

15

0.4

44

0.4

75

Eq 7

0.0

12

0.0

16

0.0

31

0.0

42

0.0

54

0.0

50

0.0

72

Eq 6

0.0

18

0.0

20

0.0

74

0.0

82

0.1

69

0.0

82

0.1

81

Eq 5

0.0

07

0.0

09

0.0

31

0.0

38

0.0

71

0.0

40

0.0

83

Eq 4

0.0

05

0.0

07

0.0

11

0.0

16

0.0

17

0.0

21

0.0

25

Eq 3

0.0

06

0.0

08

0.0

15

0.0

21

0.0

27

0.0

25

0.0

36

Eq 2

0.0

05

0.0

07

0.0

18

0.0

24

0.0

36

0.0

29

0.0

48

Eq 1

0.0

05

0.0

07

0.0

10

0.0

16

0.0

17

0.0

20

0.0

24

KLa.

s-1

Exp

0.0

07

0.0

11

0.0

16

0.0

21

0.0

25

0.0

23

0.0

36

Tab

le 4

.6 T

he

variat

ions

in o

xygen

tra

nsf

er c

oef

fici

ents

obta

ined

fro

m d

iffe

rent

corr

elat

ions

and t

he

aver

age

exper

imen

tal va

lue.

Co

nd

itio

ns

Lim

OT

LO

T1

LO

T2

MO

T1

MO

T2

HO

T1

HO

T2

Page 91: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

69

4.3.8 Specific Rates and Yield Coefficients

The variations in the specific growth rate, µ, the specific oxygen uptake

rate, qo, the specific substrate consumption rate, qs, the specific product

formation rate, qP, and the yield coefficients with cultivation time are given in

Table 4.7.a and 4.7.b. The variations in the specific growth rate with the

cultivation time are given in Figure 4.12 and as can be seen from the figure at all

the oxygen transfer conditions applied the specific growth rates decreased in the

logarithmic growth phase, and in general at t=7 h µ=0 h-1. The maximum

specific growth rate of µmax=1.04 h-1 was obtained at t=1 h at LOT1 condition.

The variations in specific substrate consumption, specific oxygen uptake and

specific β-lactamase production rates with cultivation time are given in Figures

4.13. 4.14 and 4.15 respectively. As seen in Figure 4.13, the specific substrate

consumption rates first decreased and then increased at all the conditions

except, LimOT and HOT1 at which they gradually decreased throughout the

fermentation. The highest value of qS was obtained at t=2 h of LOT1 condition as

2.17 kg kg-1 h-1; where the lowest value was obtained at t=28 h of LimOT and

HOT1 conditions as 0.07 kg kg-1 h-1. However, the specific oxygen uptake rates

decreased throughout the bioprocess due to the increased cell concentration and

gave a maximum at LimOT condition at t=2 h as q0=0.94 kg kg-1 h-1 and a

minimum at LOT1 condition at t=28 h as q0=0.08 kg kg-1 h-1. As can be seen in

Figure 4.15, in the β-lactamase formation the specific production rate decreased

throughout the process at all the oxygen transfer conditions applied but at

LimOT and LOT1 conditions after t=20 h the specific production rate again began

to increase. The highest value of qp was obtained at t=0.5 h at LOT2 condition as

69.5*106 U kg-1 h-1.

The yield of cell on substrate and the yield of cell on oxygen decreased with

the cultivation time at all the oxygen transfer conditions applied, however at

LimOT condition they increased between t=2-5 h. The highest YX/S value was

obtained at MOT1 condition at t=2 h as YX/S=0.72 kg kg-1 and the yield of cell on

oxygen reached a maximum, YX/O=1.49 kg kg-1, at t=2 h at MOT1 condition.

Nevertheless, the yield of substrate on oxygen showed a decrease and/or an

increase throughout the fermentation and gave the highest value at HOT2

condition at t=20 h as YS/O=8.07 kg kg-1.

Page 92: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

70

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

0 2 4 6 8 10 12t,h

µ,

h-1

Figure 4.12 The variations in the specific growth rate with the cultivation time.

CG0=7.0 kg m-3, T=37°C, VR= 1.65 * 10-3 m3. LimOT: (●); LOT1:(▲);

LOT2: ( ); MOT1: (○); MOT2: (∆); HOT1: (□); HOT2: (x).

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30t,h

qs,

kg k

g-1 h

-1

Figure 4.13 The variations in the specific substrate consumption rate with the

cultivation time. CG0=7.0 kg m-3, T=37°C, VR= 1.65 * 10-3 m3. LimOT:

(●); LOT1:(▲); LOT2: ( ); MOT1: (○); MOT2: (∆); HOT1: (□); HOT2: (x).

Page 93: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

71

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

0 5 10 15 20 25 30t,h

q0,

kg k

g-1 h

-1

Figure 4.14 The variations in the specific oxygen uptake rate with the

cultivation time. CG0=7.0 kg m-3, T=37°C, VR= 1.65 * 10-3 m3, LimOT:

(●); LOT1:(▲); LOT2: ( ); MOT1: (○); MOT2: (∆); HOT1: (□); HOT2: (x).

-10.0

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

0 5 10 15 20 25 30t,h

qp,

U*10

-6 k

g-1 h

-1

Figure 4.15 The variations in the specific β-lactamase production rate with the

cultivation time. CG0=7.0 kg m-3, T=37°C, VR= 1.65 * 10-3 m3. LimOT:

(●); LOT1:(▲); LOT2: ( ); MOT1: (○); MOT2: (∆); HOT1: (□); HOT2: (x).

Page 94: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

72

Y

s/o

(kg k

g-1

) 2.1

7

2.2

4

2.1

7

2.0

3

1.0

5

0.3

0

0.2

4

2.8

9

1.9

2

1.2

3

0.9

1

1.2

0

2.5

0

5.3

8

1.9

4

1.4

5

1.9

0

1.5

5

1.8

7

3.6

2

6.5

4

Y

x/s

(kg k

g-1

) 0.1

7

0.2

1

0.0

3

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.1

8

0.1

1

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.4

9

0.1

1

0.0

5

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

Y

x/o

(kg k

g-1

) 0.3

6

0.4

6

0.0

7

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.5

2

0.2

1

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.9

5

0.1

6

0.1

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

q

P*10

-6

(U k

g-1 h

-1)

7.4

7

2.1

9

1.0

4

0.6

8

0.6

9

1.2

1

2.0

4

12.7

5.7

9

4.3

2

4.1

6

4.6

3

5.3

1

6.2

8

20.3

6

7.4

7

6.5

2

5.8

6

3.9

0

2.8

7

1.7

5

qs

(kg k

g-1

h-1

) 2.0

4

0.9

2

0.6

5

0.6

0

0.3

1

0.0

9

0.0

7

2.1

7

0.7

3

0.3

7

0.2

0

0.1

2

0.2

5

0.4

3

1.3

2

0.4

5

0.3

8

0.3

1

0.2

8

0.4

7

0.8

5

q0

(kg k

g-1

h-1

) 0.9

4

0.4

1

0.3

0

0.3

0

0.3

0

0.3

0

0.3

0

0.7

5

0.3

8

0.3

0

0.2

2

0.1

0

0.1

0

0.0

8

0.6

8

0.3

1

0.2

0

0.2

0

0.1

5

0.1

3

0.1

3

r o

(kg O

2

m-3

h-1

) 0.1

6

0.1

6

0.1

6

0.1

6

0.1

6

0.1

6

0.1

6

0.1

8

0.1

8

0.1

8

0.1

3

0.0

6

0.0

6

0.0

5

0.1

5

0.1

8

0.1

2

0.1

2

0.0

9

0.0

8

0.0

8

µ

(h-1

) 0.3

4

0.1

9

0.0

2

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.3

9

0.0

8

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.6

5

0.0

5

0.0

2

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

Cx

(kg m

-3)

0.1

7

0.3

9

0.5

4

0.5

4

0.5

4

0.5

4

0.5

4

0.2

4

0.4

8

0.6

0

0.6

0

0.6

0

0.6

0

0.6

0

0.2

2

0.5

9

0.6

1

0.6

1

0.6

1

0.6

1

0.6

1

t (h)

2

5

8

11

20

24

28

2

5

8

11

20

24

28

2

5

8

11

20

24

28

Tab

le 4

.7.a

The

variat

ions

in t

he

spec

ific

rat

es a

nd y

ield

coef

fici

ents

with t

he

cultiv

atio

n t

ime

at L

imO

T.

LOT

1 a

nd L

OT

2 c

onditio

n.

Conditio

n

Lim

OT

LOT

1

LOT

2

Page 95: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

73

Y

s/o

(kg k

g-1)

2.0

8

2.1

7

0.8

5

0.7

7

1.0

2

5.7

6

5.6

3

3.1

4

1.8

1

1.6

4

1.3

3

0.7

8

0.9

2

1.0

8

2.7

1

3.2

0

2.9

3

2.7

7

1.2

3

0.8

5

0.5

4

2.9

4

2.2

9

3.8

0

6.6

7

8.0

7

Y

x/s

(kg k

g-1)

0.7

2

0.1

6

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.3

3

0.2

3

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.3

4

0.1

9

0.1

1

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.4

2

0.0

6

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

Y

x/o

(kg k

g-1)

1.4

9

0.3

4

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

1.0

2

0.4

2

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.9

1

0.6

1

0.3

4

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

1.2

5

0.1

3

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

q

P*10

-6

(U k

g-1 h

-1)

19.6

4

7.9

0

6.4

3

5.2

4

2.5

0

1.6

9

1.1

3

11.8

4

5.2

2

3.3

9

2.6

1

0.1

4

-1.0

3

-2.2

4

12.5

6

4.0

8

2.5

0

1.7

2

0.3

8

0.1

7

0.1

9

12.6

3

5.1

4

4.1

4

3.2

7

-0.3

2

qs

(kg k

g-1 h

-1)

0.6

7

0.4

4

0.1

6

0.1

2

0.1

6

0.9

0

0.8

8

1.3

5

0.5

6

0.3

6

0.2

8

0.1

4

0.1

2

0.1

4

1.8

4

0.6

4

0.4

4

0.3

6

0.1

6

0.1

1

0.0

7

1.5

3

0.5

5

0.5

7

1.0

0

1.2

1

q0

(kg k

g-1 h

-1)

0.3

2

0.2

0

0.1

9

0.1

6

0.1

6

0.1

6

0.1

6

0.4

3

0.3

1

0.2

2

0.2

1

0.1

8

0.1

3

0.1

3

0.6

8

0.2

0

0.1

5

0.1

3

0.1

3

0.1

3

0.1

3

0.5

2

0.2

4

0.1

5

0.1

5

0.1

5

r o

(kg O

2

m-3 h

-1)

0.1

0

0.1

3

0.1

2

0.1

0

0.1

0

0.1

0

0.1

0

0.1

2

0.1

7

0.1

5

0.1

4

0.1

2

0.0

9

0.0

9

0.1

3

0.0

9

0.0

8

0.0

7

0.0

7

0.0

7

0.0

7

0.1

2

0.1

4

0.1

0

0.1

0

0.1

0

µ

(h-1)

0.4

8

0.0

7

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.4

4

0.1

3

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.6

2

0.1

2

0.0

5

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.6

5

0.0

3

0.0

0

0.0

0

0.0

0

Cx

(kg m

-3)

0.3

1

0.6

4

0.6

4

0.6

4

0.6

4

0.6

4

0.6

4

0.2

8

0.5

4

0.6

7

0.6

7

0.6

7

0.6

7

0.6

7

0.1

9

0.4

6

0.5

5

0.5

5

0.5

5

0.5

5

0.5

5

0.2

3

0.5

8

0.6

6

0.6

6

0.6

6

t (h)

2

5

8

11

20

24

28

2

5

8

11

20

24

28

2

5

8

11

20

24

28

2

5

8

11

20

Tab

le 4

.7.b

The

variat

ions

in t

he

spec

ific

rat

es a

nd y

ield

coef

fici

ents

with c

ultiv

atio

n t

ime

at M

OT

1.

MO

T2.

HO

T1 a

nd H

OT

2 c

onditio

ns.

Conditio

n

MO

T1

MO

T2

HO

T1

HO

T2

Page 96: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

74

4.4 Metabolic Flux Analysis

Effects of the oxygen transfer conditions on the intracellular reaction rate

distributions were investigated at limited, low, medium and high oxygen transfer

conditions by the metabolic flux analysis based on a detailed description of the

stoichiometry of all relevant biorections involved in growth and product

formation that include the glycolysis pathway, the gluconeogenesis pathway, the

anaplerotic and the pentose phosphate pathway reactions; metabolic

intermediates of the TCA cycle; the serine, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid

and aromatic family amino acids, and histidine biosynthesis pathways; and the

biomass synthesis including DNA, lipids, cell components synthesis. The

stoichiometric reactions of the network used in this study are given in Appendix

G. The overall pathway was simplified by lumping some reactions into single

ones without losing representation accuracy. The extensive analysis of the broth

did not reveal any pools of metabolic by-products except SAP that was included

in the model. The exact amino acid combination of β-lactamase (Ledent et al.,

1997) and SAP (Jacobs, 1995) by B.licheniformis was used while formulating

their chemical composition. Also, the following major assumptions are

incorporated in the model:

1. All cells are assumed to show an identical behavior throughout the

bioprocess;

2. Amino acid and organic acid excretions and transportation processes

are assumed to function via passive transport mechanism;

3. Transportation of CO2, NH3 in the form NH4+, and phosphate from

the cell to the broth and from the broth to the cell are also assumed

to employ passive transport;

4. The enzyme secretion is assumed to function via passive transport

mechanism;

5. Conversion of NADPH to NADH via the transhydrogenation reaction

is reversible and not energy dependent.

Page 97: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

75

The calculated accumulation rates of the metabolites, i.e., the organic

acids, the amino acids, β-lactamase, SAP, and the cell were used in the model to

find the intracellular flux distributions by using Equation 2.20 given in Chapter 2.

LimOT, LOT1, MOT1 and HOT2 conditions were chosen among limited, low,

medium and high oxygen transfer conditions in order to determine the effects of

oxygen on intracellular reaction rates. Considering biomass and β-lactamase

concentration profiles, the bioprocess can be divided into 4 periods as depicted

in Figure 4.16.

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0 5 10 15 20 25t,h

CB,

kg m

-3

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

Cx,

kg m

-3

Figure 4.16 The variations of cell and beta-lactamase concentrations with the

cultivation time. LimOT: (●); LOT1:(▲); MOT1: (○); HOT2: (x).

Period I (0<t<6 h) is the exponential growth phase where the β-lactamase

synthesis starts to increase, Period II (6<t<11 h) is the stationary phase where

the β-lactamase synthesis was the highest in general, Period III (11<t<20) is

the stationary phase for β-lactamase synthesis and Period IV (20<t<30 h) is the

degradation period at HOT2 condition, whereas at MOT1 and LOT1 again β-

lactamase synthesis increased. The data of cultivation times of t1=4 h, t2=8 h,

t3=15 h, and t4=22 h were used to obtain the intracellular metabolic flux

distributions in Period I, II, III and IV respectively. The data obtained throughout

β-lactamase fermentation were exploited, using a linear approach, to calculate

Period IV

Period III

Period II

Period I

Page 98: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

76

the specific growth rate and the uptake and the excretion rates of the

metabolites, i.e., the organic acids and the amino acids, and the secretion rates

of β-lactamase and SAP. The measured net output-rates of metabolites that are

derived from the data points of the batch-bioreactor experiments were used in

the model in order to calculate the intracellular flux distributions. The variations

in SAP concentration the with cultivation time at LimOT, LOT1, MOT1 and HOT2

conditions are given in Figure 4.17. At all the conditions, produced SAP was at

low levels. At LOT1 condition SAP was not observed in the fermentation broth.

However, at LimOT and MOT1 condition the concentration of SAP decreased with

the cultivation time whereas the concentration of SAP in the HOT2 condition

stayed constant throughout the fermentation.

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0 5 10 15 20 25t,h

CSAP

, kg m

-3

Figure 4.17 The variations of SAP concentration with the cultivation time.

LimOT: (●); LOT1:(▲); MOT1: (○); HOT2: (x).

4.4.1 Metabolic Flux Analysis for LimOT Condition

Metabolic flux distributions for the two periods of LimOT condition are given

in Table 4.8. As seen in Table 4.8, the flux through β-lactamase synthesis (R149)

and cell formation flux (R145) decreased and reached zero from period I to

period III.

Page 99: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

77

In period I the glycolysis pathway reactions were active; while the

gluconeogenesis pathway reactions were inactive, as expected. However, in

Period III, the reactions Pyr formation from PEP (R14) and AcCoA formation

from Pyr(R16) were inactive in the glycolysis pathway. In this period, Pyr was

produced mainly from the anapleoric reaction (R36) and from the Lac (R32).

Similar to period I, in period III the gluconeogenesis pathway reactions were

inactive.

In Period I at LimOT condition, the key intermediate R5P, synthesized for

the nucleotides and biomass components, formation was achieved by branching

at F6P through the interconversion reaction since the fluxes from G6P to both Glc

(R2) and Gluc6P (R17) were inactive and ca. 12% of the glucose was directed to

the formation of R5P from Xyl5P (R22). Nevertheless, in period III, R5P was

produced using oxidative reactions (R20) and ca. 14% of the glucose was

directed to the R5P formation by oxidative way.

In period I, Cit (R37), ICit (R38) and αKG (R39) formation reactions were

inactive in the TCA cycle, while in period III the successful operation of TCA cycle

was observed and glyoxylate shunt was inactive in both periods. As αKG is a

branch point in the TCA cycle, the magnitude of the fluxes through the αKG

formation reaction or the fluxes diverted from αKG influences the TCA cycle

fluxes and consequently, the energy generation. Among the amino acid

pathways the flux directed to glutamate from αKG (R73) is certainly important;

in period I ca. 6% of the glucose was directed to the TCA cycle via αKG.

Glucose as the carbon source, ATP is generated in the glycolysis pathway

by the substrate -level phosphorylation reactions (R10, R14), and in the TCA

cycle by both substrate-level phosphorylation (R41) and oxidative

phosphorylation (R122, R123) reactions. The total ATP generation rates were

calculated from R10, R14, R33, R41, R101, R112, R122 and R123 and they were

tabulated in Table 4.9. At LimOT condition, ATP generation rate slightly

decreased with the cultivation time from period I to period III. Throughout the

fermentation 24-53% and 40-76% of the ATP was produced by the substrate-

level phosphorylation reactions (R10, R14, and R41) and by the oxidative

phosphorylation reactions (R122, R123), respectively. In period III, according to

the model ATP was not used as the maintenance energy, however in period I ca.

16% of the total ATP produced was used for maintenance (R147).

Page 100: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

78

In period I the formation reactions of Lac (R31) and Ac (R33) were active

while in period III they were inactive. Further, in Period III R32 catalysed by the

enzyme lactate dehydrogenase was active as Lac was converted to Pyr. Indeed

synthesis of the amino acids that are required for the biomass synthesis and

building blocks of β-lactamase is important. For glutamic acid-family amino acids

αKG, for aspartic acid-family amino acids OA, for alanine-family amino acids Pyr,

for serine-family amino acids PG3, for aromatic-family amino acids PEP and E4P,

and for histidine synthesis R5P are the branch points. Among the amino acid

pathways the flux directed to glutamate is certainly important as mentioned

above and according to the model, Glu is used for the biosynthesis of Ser (R48),

Ala (R51), Val (R53), Leu (R54), Asp (R57), mDAP (R62, Ile (R66), Phe (R69),

Tyr (R70), Gln (R74), Pro (R75) and ornithine (Orn; R76), while it is also

produced from αKG (R73) via the catabolism reactions of Ala (R79), Pro (R90),

Arg (R80), Val (R95) and His (R86) and by the biosynthesis reactions of Asn

(R58), GMP (R98), CaP (R136), UDPNAG (R137). In period I, at the branch point

of αKG in the TCA cycle, the flux through R40 was higher than the flux through

R39 due to the additional αKG synthesis through the amino acid formation

reactions of Ser (R48), Val (R53), Leu (R54) and Phe (R69). However, in period

III the flux from the TCA cycle via αKG was diverted to Glu since the flux through

R39 to R40 slightly decreased. The flux towards Asp from OA increased with the

cultivation time and all the fluxes in the aspartic acid family amino acids were

active in period I. However, in period III the formation reaction of AspSa (R59)

through formation reaction of Met (R67) were inactive. The flux through the

aromatic-family amino acids (R68), was higher in period III than in period I.

4.4.2 Metabolic Flux Analysis for LOT1 Condition

Metabolic flux distributions for four periods of LOT1 condition are given in

Table 4.8. As seen in Table 4.8, the specific cell growth rate (R145) was the

highest at period I and zero in period II, III and IV. However flux through β-

lactamase synthesis (R149) was zero in period I and the highest at period II.

In period I the glycolysis pathway reactions were active; however in Period

III the Pyr formation reaction (R14) and similar to period III at LimOT condition,

in Period II and IV at LOT1 condition both R14 and the AcCoA formation reaction

from Pyr (R16) were inactive in the glycolysis pathway. However for all period

gluconeogenesis pathway reactions were inactive.

Page 101: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

79

In Period IV, the key intermediate R5P formation was achieved by

branching at F6P through the interconversion reaction since the fluxes from G6P

to both Glc (R2) and Gluc6P (R17) were inactive and ca. 10% of the glucose was

directed to R5P through R22. Nevertheless, in period I, II, and III R5P was

produced using oxidative reaction and in period I ca. 9% of the glucose, in

period II ca. 61% of the glucose, and in period III ca. 28% of the glucose was

directed to the R5P formation reaction.

The analysis of the TCA-cycle fluxes showed that, in period I, only the

formation of Mal (R44) and OA (R45) reactions were active in the TCA cycle.

However in period II only formation of SucCoA (R40) and Suc (R41) were

inactive in the TCA cycle. In period III the successful operation of TCA cycle was

observed while in period IV αKG (R39) and Suc (R41) formation reactions were

inactive in the TCA cycle. In the process at LOT1 condition, glyoxylate shunt was

inactive in period I and period III, but in period II and IV it was active. Moreover

in period II the reaction through Pyr synthesis from Mal (R35) was active, while

in other periods anapleoric reactions (R35, R36) were inactive.

The total ATP generation rate decreased with the cultivation time at LOT1

condition (Table 4.9). Throughout the fermentation 15-50% and 40-85% of the

ATP was produced by the substrate-level phosphorylation reactions (R10, R14,

and R41) and by the oxidative phosphorylation reactions (R122, R123),

respectively. Furthermore the ATP consumption for maintenance (R147)

increased from period I to II then decreased throughout the process at LOT1

condition.

In period III and in period IV, at the branch point of αKG in the TCA cycle,

the flux through R40 was slightly higher than the flux through R39 due to the

additional αKG synthesis through the amino acid formation reactions. However in

period II the flux from the TCA cycle via αKG was diverted to Glu since the flux

through R39 to R40 decreased.

For the synthesis of Asp and further aspartic acid-group amino acids, the

flux of the reaction that branched at OA towards Asp (R57) decreased from

period I to period II then increased with cultivation time. In Period I and II the

flux from AspSa through HSer (R64), Thr (R65), Ile (R66) and Met (R67) were

active, while in period III and period IV these reactions were inactive. The fluxes

through the aromatic-family amino acids (R68) were active in all periods.

Page 102: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

80

Further, for the synthesis reaction of Ser from PG3 and Glu (R48) were active in

all periods except period IV.

4.4.3 Metabolic Flux Analysis for MOT1 Condition

Metabolic flux distributions for the four periods of MOT1 condition are given

in Table 4.8. As seen in Table 4.8, the specific cell growth rate (R145) was the

highest at period I and it was zero in period II, III and IV. However flux through

β-lactamase synthesis (R149) increased from period I to II and then decreased

from period II to period III and then increased from period III to IV.

In period III, the glycolysis pathway reactions were active; however, in

Period II, AcCoA formation reaction (R16) from Pyr, in period I, the Pyr

formation reaction (R14) and in period IV, similar to period II and IV at LOT1

condition, both R14 and R16 were inactive in the glycolysis pathway. Similar to

LOT1 condition, at MOT1 condition gluconeogenesis pathway reactions were

inactive in all period. Similar to period II at LOT1 condition, the reaction through

Pyr synthesis from Mal (R35) was active in period II at MOT1 condition, while in

period I, III and IV anapleoric reactions (R35, R36) were inactive.

In Period II and IV, the key intermediate R5P formation was achieved by

interconversion reaction since the fluxes from G6P to both Glc (R2) and Gluc6P

(R17) were inactive and in period II ca. 12% of glucose, in period IV ca. 20% of

glucose was directed to R5P formation through R22. Nevertheless, in period I

and III, R5P was produced by oxidative (R20) reaction and in period I ca. 25% of

the glucose and in period III ca. 16% of the glucose was directed to R5P

formation reaction.

In period I R40, and R41; in period II R39, R41, R42, and R45; and in

period III R40-R45 were inactive in the TCA cycle. However in period IV, the

successful operation of TCA cycle was observed. Moreover, the glyoxylate shunt

was inactive in period III while it was active in period I, II and IV.

The total ATP generation rate increased with the cultivation time at MOT1

condition (Table 4.9). Throughout the fermentation 33-53% and 34-58% of the

ATP was produced by the substrate-level phosphorylation reactions (R10, R14,

and R41) and by the oxidative phosphorylation reactions (R122, R123),

respectively. In period II, III and IV, according to the model ATP was not used

Page 103: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

81

as the maintenance energy, however in period I 58% of the total ATP produced

was used for maintenance (R147).

In period II, at the branch point of αKG in the TCA cycle, the flux through

R40 was higher than the flux through R39 due to the additional αKG synthesis

through the amino acid formation reactions. However, in period I, III and IV the

flux from the TCA cycle via αKG was diverted to Glu since the flux through R39 to

R40 slightly decreased.

For the synthesis of Asp and further aspartic acid-group amino acids, the

flux of the reaction that branched at OA towards Asp (R57) increased from

period I to period II then decreased from period II to period III and then again

increased from period III to IV. In period I, II and IV the flux from AspSa

through Lys(R63), HSer (R64), Thr (R65), Ile (R66) and Met (R67) were active,

while in period III these reactions were inactive. The fluxes through the

aromatic-family amino acids (R68) and the synthesis reaction of Ser from PG3

and Glu (R48) were active in all periods.

4.4.4 Metabolic Flux Analysis for HOT2 Condition

Metabolic flux distributions for the two periods of HOT2 condition are given

in Table 4.8. As seen in Table 4.8, the specific cell growth rate (R145) and the

flux through β-lactamase synthesis decreased with cultivation time.

In period I Pyr formation reaction (R14) in the glycolysis pathway, in period

III, similar to period IV at MOT1 condition, in addition to R14, the AcCoA

formation reaction (R16) from Pyr were inactive. Similar to LOT1 and MOT1

condition, in period I and in period III the gluconeogenesis pathway reactions

were inactive.

In period III at HOT2 condition, the key intermediate R5P formation was

achieved by branching at F6P through the interconversion reaction and ca. 20%

of the glucose was diverted to formation of R5P through R22. Nevertheless, in

period I, R5P was produced using oxidative (R20) reaction and ca. 45% of the

glucose was directed to R5P formation reaction.

Page 104: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

82

In period I the reactions R37, R38, and R39; and in period III R40, and

R41 were inactive in the TCA cycle. In the process, the glyoxylate shunt was

inactive in period I while it is active in period III.

The total ATP generation rate slightly increased with the cultivation time at

HOT2 condition (Table 4.9). Throughout the fermentation 20-49% and 51-80%

of the ATP was produced by the substrate-level phosphorylation reactions (R10,

R14, and R41) and by the oxidative phosphorylation reactions (R122, R123),

respectively. According to the model ATP was not used as the maintenance

energy, in period III while in period I 37% of the total ATP produced was used

for maintenance (R147).

In period I, at the branch point of αKG in the TCA cycle, the flux through

R40 was higher than the flux through R39 due to the additional αKG synthesis

through the amino acid formation reactions of Ser (R48), Ala (R51), Val(R53),

Leu (R54), Phe (R69), Tyr (R70). However in period III, the flux from the TCA

cycle via αKG was diverted to Glu since the flux through R39 to R40 decreased.

The flux towards Asp from OA increased with the cultivation time and all the

fluxes through the aspartic acid family amino acids were active throughout the

bioprocess. Moreover, the flux through the aromatic-family amino acids (R68)

and serine-family amino acids (R48) were higher in period III than in period I.

Metabolic flux analysis results show that with glucose as the carbon source,

energy is generated first in the glycolysis pathway by the substrate level

phosphorylation and then in the TCA cycle by the oxidative phosphorylation

reactions. Although it is expected that ATP generation would be the highest at

high oxygen transfer condition, the comparison of the ATP generation at LimOT,

LOT1, MOT1, and HOT2 showed a different profile that verifies the regulatory

responses of cell in the metabolic reaction network.

Page 105: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

83

t=15

9.9

330

0.0

000

0.0

000

9.9

330

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

7.9

490

0.0

000

15.8

950

0.0

000

13.9

050

0.0

000

0.0

000

HO

T2 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

3.4

600

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.8

850

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.8

480

0.0

000

3.6

580

0.0

000

3.5

190

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=22

10.7

640

0.0

000

0.0

000

10.7

64

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

8.6

340

0.0

000

17.2

380

0.0

000

15.0

580

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=15

6.5

500

0.0

000

0.0

000

5.5

030

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

5..

1770

0.0

000

10.7

040

0.0

000

9.6

900

0.0

000

1.0

930

t=8

3.8

190

0.0

000

0.0

000

3.8

19

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

3.3

430

0.0

000

6.3

200

0.0

000

6.2

050

0.0

000

1.4

330

MO

T1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

3.0

900

0.0

000

0.0

000

2.2

900

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

2.2

740

0.0

000

4.7

040

0.0

000

4.0

420

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=22

0.9

260

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.9

260

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.8

330

0.0

000

1.4

810

0.0

000

1.4

810

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=15

0.4

630

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.3

340

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.3

340

0.0

000

0.7

100

0.0

000

0.6

360

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

2.0

370

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.7

890

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.3

120

0.0

000

3.0

270

0.0

000

2.6

770

0.0

000

0.0

000

LOT

1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

6.5

500

0.0

000

0.0

000

5.9

250

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

5.9

100

0.0

000

11.8

670

0.0

000

11.7

990

0.0

000

4.7

860

t=15

2.7

270

0.0

000

0.0

000

2.3

380

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

2.3

380

0.0

000

4.2

860

0.0

000

4.2

860

0.0

000

0.0

000

Lim

OT c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

6.2

500

0.0

000

0.0

000

6.2

060

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

5.4

300

0.0

000

10.7

470

0.0

000

9.8

190

0.0

000

2.3

110

Tab

le 4

.8 M

etab

olic

flu

x dis

trib

ution o

f β-

lact

amas

e fe

rmen

tation

of

B.lic

hen

iform

is a

t Li

mO

T,

LOT

1,

MO

T1,

and H

OT

2 c

onditio

ns

R#

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Page 106: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

84

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.9

840

0.0

007

0.0

000

0.0

007

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.9

850

HO

T2 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

0.1

130

1.5

620

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.5

620

0.0

000

0.0

290

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

290

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

2.1

300

0.0

090

0.0

000

0.0

090

0.0

000

0.0

000

2.1

380

t=15

0.0

000

2.7

660

1.0

470

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.0

470

0.0

000

0.3

260

0.3

490

0.0

000

0.3

490

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.6

750

t=8

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.4

760

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.4

760

MO

T1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

3.2

620

0.7

710

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.7

710

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.2

380

0.0

000

0.2

380

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.2

380

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

930

0.0

930

0.0

000

0.0

930

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.1

850

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

940

0.1

290

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.1

290

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

430

0.0

000

0.0

430

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

430

t=8

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.2

480

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.2

480

0.5

230

0.0

000

0.4

220

0.0

000

0.4

220

0.0

000

0.1

020

0.0

000

LOT

1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

3.3

930

0.5

980

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.5

980

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.1

160

0.0

000

0.1

160

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.1

160

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.3

900

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.3

900

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.3

900

0.0

000

0.3

900

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.3

900

Lim

OT c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

2.3

070

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.7

510

0.0

000

0.0

610

0.0

000

0.0

610

0.0

000

0.6

900

Tab

le 4

.8 C

ontinued

R#

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Page 107: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

85

t=15

0.0

007

0.0

000

0.0

860

0.0

000

0.0

000

8.8

440

0.0

000

0.0

000

5.9

690

5.9

690

0.0

070

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

HO

T2 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

0.0

020

0.0

000

0.4

190

0.0

000

0.3

360

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.3

330

2.1

020

0.0

000

t=22

0.0

090

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

780

0.0

000

12.0

670

0.0

000

0.0

000

7.8

870

7.8

870

1.8

010

1.6

710

1.6

710

0.0

000

t=15

0.3

490

0.0

000

6.6

870

0.0

000

3.6

010

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

090

0.0

090

0.0

090

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

005

0.0

000

0.0

000

4.2

320

5.8

090

0.0

000

2.3

510

2.3

480

0.0

000

0.3

460

0.0

000

0.0

000

MO

T1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.2

340

0.0

000

0.0

070

0.0

000

1.4

150

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.8

500

0.8

500

0.1

980

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=22

0.0

930

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.9

170

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.5

850

0.5

850

0.0

000

0.0

030

0.0

000

0.2

750

t=15

0.0

430

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.5

140

0.0

000

1.8

110

0.0

000

0.0

000

2.0

150

2.0

150

2.0

150

2.0

310

2.0

310

0.0

000

t=8

0.4

220

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

930

0.5

620

0.0

000

0.9

420

0.9

420

0.1

030

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

LOT

1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.1

120

0.0

000

6.6

870

0.0

000

3.4

140

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=15

0.3

900

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

630

0.0

000

3.4

850

0.0

000

0.8

110

1.7

130

1.7

130

1.7

130

1.7

110

0.9

320

0.0

000

Lim

OT c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

0.0

680

6.6

480

0.0

000

1.9

950

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.3

480

0.3

480

0.0

000

Tab

le 4

.8 C

ontinued

R#

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

Page 108: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

86

t=15

5.9

620

5.9

640

11.9

270

5.9

620

5.9

620

1.9

910

0.0

030

0.0

008

0.0

000

1.0

990

0.0

040

1.0

950

1.9

840

0.0

005

HO

T2 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

2.1

020

3.7

110

3.7

110

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.1

390

0.0

580

0.0

270

0.0

630

0.9

200

0.8

310

0.0

880

1.5

890

1.5

340

t=22

7.7

570

7.8

190

13.9

050

6.0

860

6.0

860

2.1

800

0.0

230

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.1

480

0.0

520

0.0

960

2.1

210

0.0

140

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.0

140

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

190

0.0

000

0.0

190

1.0

240

0.0

000

t=8

2.7

210

3.4

610

0.0

000

2.3

480

2.3

480

0.1

150

0.0

030

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

380

0.0

300

0.0

070

0.4

760

0.3

670

MO

T1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.6

530

0.7

980

1.4

500

0.6

530

0.6

530

0.6

620

0.1

250

0.0

540

0.0

000

0.1

480

0.0

710

0.0

770

0.5

290

0.0

000

t=22

0.5

880

0.8

970

1.4

820

0.5

850

0.5

850

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=15

2.0

220

2.0

230

2.0

230

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

750

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

860

0.0

000

t=8

0.8

390

0.8

830

1.1

610

0.8

390

0.8

390

0.3

500

0.0

240

0.0

060

0.0

000

1.5

560

0.0

210

1.5

350

0.3

030

0.0

010

LOT

1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

0.2

830

0.2

830

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

670

0.0

000

0.0

370

0.0

860

0.1

500

0.0

640

0.0

860

0.4

790

0.1

890

t=15

1.74

50

6.87

60

6.87

60

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

1.80

00

0.00

00

1.80

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

Lim

OT c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.3

480

0.4

520

0.4

520

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.9

290

0.1

540

0.0

620

0.0

000

0.1

990

0.1

120

0.0

870

0.8

060

0.0

240

Tab

le 4

.8 C

ontinued

R#

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

Page 109: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

87

t=15

8.7

940

0.0

050

8.7

800

8.7

730

8.7

730

8.7

730

8.7

730

0.0

070

0.0

060

0.0

020

0.0

008

1.9

860

0.0

009

0.0

020

HO

T2 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

3.7

110

0.0

370

1.9

520

1.8

330

1.8

330

1.8

330

1.8

330

0.1

190

0.1

000

0.0

500

0.0

190

0.0

280

0.0

050

0.0

230

t=22

10.4

780

0.0

460

10.3

500

10.1

600

10.1

600

10.1

600

10.1

600

0.1

900

0.1

810

0.0

500

0.0

090

2.1

470

0.0

210

0.0

240

t=15

0.0

190

7.6

120

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.0

240

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

4.6

170

0.0

020

4.2

400

4.2

290

4.2

290

4.2

290

4.2

290

0.0

110

0.0

100

0.0

040

0.0

010

0.4

760

0.0

000

0.3

670

MO

T1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.6

000

0.0

000

0.3

570

0.2

320

0.2

320

0.2

320

0.2

320

0.1

250

0.0

940

0.0

490

0.0

310

0.4

720

0.0

360

0.0

230

t=22

0.9

580

0.0

250

0.8

870

0.8

870

0.8

870

0.8

870

0.8

870

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.2

780

0.0

000

0.2

780

t=15

0.5

430

0.0

000

0.5

450

0.5

450

0.5

450

0.5

450

0.5

450

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

860

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

0.2

190

0.0

180

0.1

160

0.0

340

0.0

340

0.0

340

0.0

340

0.0

810

0.0

760

0.0

200

0.0

060

0.3

200

0.0

100

0.0

090

LOT

1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

1.2

610

0.0

450

0.8

200

0.0

510

0.0

510

0.0

510

0.0

510

0.7

690

0.7

470

0.0

430

0.0

220

0.2

270

0.0

270

0.0

210

t=15

4.35

30

0.00

20

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.77

90

0.00

00

0.77

90

Lim

OT c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.6

750

0.0

990

0.2

460

0.0

950

0.0

950

0.0

950

0.0

950

0.1

500

0.1

120

0.0

770

0.0

380

0.6

220

0.0

180

0.0

000

Tab

le 4

.8 C

ontinued

R#

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

Page 110: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

88

t=15

1.9

830

1.9

830

17.5

890

0.0

090

0.0

020

0.0

020

0.0

020

0.0

020

1.9

790

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

HO

T2 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

0.0

000

6.2

310

1.7

510

0.0

380

0.0

560

0.0

510

0.0

510

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=22

2.1

070

2.1

070

21.2

440

0.1

380

0.0

000

0.0

490

0.0

490

0.0

490

2.0

040

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

040

0.0

000

t=15

1.0

240

1.0

240

0.2

080

7.6

200

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.8

520

0.0

000

7.6

020

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

0.1

090

0.1

090

8.8

790

0.3

720

0.0

190

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.1

030

0.0

080

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

010

0.0

000

MO

T1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.4

130

0.4

130

1.7

380

0.3

480

0.0

360

0.1

030

0.0

930

0.0

930

0.3

120

0.0

000

0.0

090

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.8

360

0.0

530

0.0

000

0.0

310

0.0

310

0.0

310

0.0

060

0.0

310

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=15

0.0

860

0.0

860

1.0

190

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

010

0.0

010

0.0

010

0.1

110

0.0

160

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

0.3

020

0.3

020

0.5

890

0.0

770

0.0

160

0.0

420

0.0

420

0.0

420

0.2

600

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

LOT

1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.1

790

0.1

790

1.9

500

0.5

260

0.0

320

0.0

540

0.0

450

0.0

450

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=15

0.00

00

0.00

00

4.35

50

4.35

50

0.00

00

4.35

20

4.35

20

4.35

20

0.00

00

4.35

20

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

Lim

OT c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.6

040

0.6

040

0.5

740

0.5

150

0.0

580

0.0

150

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.5

440

0.5

660

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

Tab

le 4

.8 C

ontinued

R#

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

Page 111: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

89

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.1

020

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.9

840

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

005

0.0

000

HO

T2 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

1.5

190

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

180

0.0

000

0.7

690

0.0

210

1.5

550

0.0

180

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

210

0.0

000

0.0

470

2.0

970

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

140

0.0

000

t=15

0.0

220

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

100

0.8

520

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

0.0

000

0.3

660

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.1

100

0.3

730

0.0

260

0.0

000

0.3

670

0.0

000

MO

T1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

0.0

320

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.4

080

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

450

0.0

450

0.0

370

t=22

0.0

080

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

160

0.0

000

0.0

060

0.2

780

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=15

0.0

110

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

010

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

160

0.0

930

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

1.4

940

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.3

220

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

010

0.0

000

LOT

1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.2

250

0.1

750

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.6

760

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

420

0.2

310

0.0

350

t=15

0.00

40

0.00

00

0.00

00

1.80

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.77

90

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

0.00

00

Lim

OT c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.6

430

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

690

0.0

920

0.0

570

Tab

le 4

.8 C

ontinued

R#

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

Page 112: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

90

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

005

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

005

1.9

930

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

HO

T2 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

180

1.5

540

0.0

000

0.0

020

0.0

020

1.5

380

3.2

780

0.0

340

0.0

340

0.0

320

0.0

150

0.0

020

0.0

000

0.0

020

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

140

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

140

2.2

350

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

8.6

360

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

0.0

000

0.3

670

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.3

670

0.8

440

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

MO

T1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

370

0.0

410

0.0

000

0.0

030

0.0

030

0.0

070

0.7

520

0.0

720

0.0

720

0.0

690

0.0

320

0.0

030

0.0

000

0.0

030

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

560

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

880

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

0.0

000

0.0

010

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

010

0.3

770

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

LOT

1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

350

0.2

280

0.0

000

0.0

030

0.0

030

0.1

960

0.8

590

0.0

680

0.0

680

0.0

650

0.0

300

0.0

030

0.0

000

0.0

030

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

4.3

530

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

Lim

OT c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

570

0.0

870

0.0

000

0.0

050

0.0

050

0.0

350

1.0

980

0.1

100

0.1

100

0.1

050

0.0

490

0.0

050

0.0

000

0.0

050

Tab

le 4

.8 C

ontinued

R#

99

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

Page 113: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

91

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

020

0.0

008

0.0

005

0.0

005

0.0

000

40.2

250

0.0

000

0.4

700

15.8

340

9.0

240

0.0

000

19.5

800

HO

T2 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

020

0.0

020

0.0

000

0.0

190

0.0

570

1.5

760

0.0

210

8.6

590

0.0

000

8.7

980

5.3

980

6.4

940

0.0

000

7.9

070

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

220

0.0

000

0.0

000

7.8

480

0.0

000

4.8

590

0.0

000

1.2

280

t=15

0.0

030

0.0

030

0.0

000

0.0

220

0.0

990

0.2

740

0.3

490

3.8

020

0.0

000

6.7

350

0.0

000

3.6

880

0.0

000

2.2

700

t=8

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

010

0.0

010

0.0

003

0.3

670

0.0

000

12.2

150

0.0

000

0.0

000

6.9

970

4.3

360

0.0

000

9.3

480

MO

T1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

030

0.0

030

0.0

340

0.0

310

0.0

570

0.0

900

0.0

000

3.0

270

0.0

000

7.3

930

0.8

260

4.8

940

0.0

000

2.4

760

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

080

3.8

930

0.0

000

0.2

460

1.4

750

1.3

920

0.0

000

1.8

340

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

110

0.0

000

0.0

000

6.0

220

2.5

690

4.3

940

0.0

000

1.0

780

t=8

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

170

0.0

060

0.0

010

0.0

010

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

7.5

610

2.3

340

3.7

630

0.0

000

0.9

590

LOT

1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

030

0.0

030

0.0

000

0.0

220

0.0

990

0.2

740

0.3

490

3.8

020

0.0

000

6.7

350

0.0

000

3.6

880

0.0

000

2.2

700

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

040

4.4

430

0.0

000

12.8

770

3.5

460

7.9

870

0.0

000

4.3

530

Lim

OT c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

050

0.0

050

0.0

000

0.0

380

0.1

610

0.1

610

0.0

510

3.6

360

0.0

000

4.8

520

0.3

480

3.8

690

0.0

000

1.0

090

Tab

le 4

.8 C

ontinued

R#

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

Page 114: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

92

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

020

1.9

930

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

020

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

HO

T2 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

0.0

460

3.2

890

0.1

710

0.0

000

0.0

100

0.0

020

0.0

020

0.0

210

0.0

850

0.0

060

0.0

020

0.0

020

0.0

020

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

050

2.2

350

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

490

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

8.6

360

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.8

440

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

MO

T1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

0.0

850

0.7

740

0.3

640

0.0

000

0.0

220

0.0

040

0.0

040

0.0

440

0.1

650

0.0

120

0.0

050

0.0

040

0.0

040

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

560

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

310

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

880

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

010

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=8

0.0

000

0.0

110

0.3

770

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

420

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

LOT

1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

0.0

590

0.8

800

0.3

430

0.0

000

0.0

210

0.0

040

0.0

040

0.0

410

0.1

130

0.0

110

0.0

040

0.0

040

0.0

040

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

4.3

530

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

4.3

520

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

Lim

OT c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

000

0.1

000

1.1

330

0.5

570

0.0

000

0.0

340

0.0

060

0.0

060

0.0

670

0.1

100

0.0

180

0.0

070

0.0

060

0.0

060

Tab

le 4

.8 C

ontinued

R#

127

128

129

130

131

132

133

134

135

136

137

138

139

140

Page 115: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

93

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

001

0.0

000

2.8

360

0.0

001

HO

T2 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

020

0.0

140

0.0

000

0.0

010

0.0

800

0.0

000

10.6

580

0.0

000

0.0

020

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

003

0.0

000

4.4

590

0.0

030

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

270

0.0

000

t=8

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

6.9

680

0.0

003

MO

T1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

040

0.0

290

0.0

000

0.0

030

0.1

700

0.0

000

8.3

26

0.0

000

0.0

000

t=22

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

620

0.0

000

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

14.3

970

0.5

350

0.0

000

t=8

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

16.0

800

0.0

000

0.0

010

LOT

1 c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

040

0.0

270

0.0

000

0.0

030

0.1

600

0.0

000

15.6

840

0.9

770

0.0

000

t=15

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

0.0

000

Lim

OT c

onditio

n f

luxe

s

mm

ol g

-1 D

W h

-1

t=4

0.0

060

0.0

440

0.0

000

0.0

040

0.2

600

0.0

000

3.9

800

0.2

230

0.0

005

Tab

le 4

.8 C

ontinued

R#

141

142

143

144

145

146

147

148

149

Page 116: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

94

Table 4.9 ATP generation throughout the fermentation. LimOT Period I Period III

mmol g-1 DW h-1 ATP ATP

R# ATP% ATP%

10 10.747 42.21 4.286 19.80 14 2.311 9.08 0.000 0.00 33 1.995 7.84 0.000 0.00 41 0.348 1.37 0.932 4.31 101 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 112 0.005 0.02 0.000 0.00 122 9.704 38.12 12.877 59.50 123 0.348 1.37 3.546 16.39

Total 25.458 100 21.641 100

LOT1 Period I Period II Period III Perıod IV

mmol g-1 DW h-1 ATP ATP ATP ATP R# ATP% ATP% ATP% ATP%

10 11.867 35.38 3.027 14.78 0.710 4.09 1.481 42.95

14 4.786 14.27 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00

33 3.414 10.18 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00

41 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 2.031 11.70 0.000 0.00

101 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00

112 0.003 0.01 0.003 0.01 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00

122 13.470 40.16 15.122 73.82 12.044 69.40 0.492 14.27

123 0.000 0.00 2.334 11.39 2.569 14.80 1.475 42.78

Total 33.540 100 20.486 100 17.354 100 3.448 100

MOT1 Period I Period II Period III Period IV

mmol g-1 DW h-1 ATP ATP ATP ATP R# ATP% ATP% ATP% ATP%

10 4.704 32.80 6.320 42.85 10.704 46.05 17.238 45.16

14 0.000 0.00 1.433 9.72 1.093 4.70 0.000 0.00

33 1.415 9.87 0.000 0.00 3.601 15.49 0.000 0.00

41 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 1.671 4.38

101 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00

112 0.003 0.02 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00

122 7.393 51.55 0.000 0.00 7.848 33.76 1.430 3.75

123 0.826 5.76 6.997 47.44 0.000 0.00 17.832 46.72

Total 14.341 100 14.750 100 23.246 100 38.171 100

HOT2 Period I Period III mmol g-1 DW h-1 ATP ATP

R# ATP% ATP% 10 3.658 12.72 15.895 48.65 14 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 33 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 41 2.102 7.31 0.000 0.00 101 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 112 0.002 0.01 0.000 0.00 122 17.596 61.19 0.940 2.88 123 5.398 18.77 15.834 48.47

Total 28.756 100 32.669 100

Page 117: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

95

CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION

This study focuses on, the effects of oxygen transfer on β-lactamase

production by Bacillus licheniformis on a defined medium. In order to clarify the

oxygen transfer effects on the production of β-lactamase, firstly a glucose based

defined medium was designed and using this medium, the effects of the

bioreactor operation parameters, i.e., pH and temperature, on β-lactamase

activity and cell formation were investigated in laboratory scale bioreactors.

Thereafter, using the optimized medium the effects of oxygen transfer on cell

generation, substrate consumption, product (β-lactamase) and by-products

formation were investigated in the pilot scale bioreactor. Finally, the influence of

oxygen transfer conditions on the intracellular reaction rates in β-lactamase

production by B.licheniformis under well-defined batch bioreactor conditions was

investigated using metabolic flux analysis to evaluate the effects of oxygen on

the metabolism. In this context the following conclusions were drawn:

1. In order to design a defined medium firstly yeast extract was

omitted from the medium found in the study of Çalık and Çelik

(2004), and medium, that contained (kg m-3): glucose, 8;

(NH4)2HPO4, 4.7 and the salt solution in which the β-lactamase

activity was obtained as 60 U cm-3 was considered as the starting

point for medium design experiments and the medium named as

reference production medium (RPM).

2. The effect of (NH4)2HPO4 concentration was investigated within the

range corresponding to initial nitrogen concentration of 0.0 – 4.0 kg

m-3 on β- lactamase activity at 37°C with an initial pH of 7.2. The

highest β-lactamase activity was obtained at CN0 = 7.1 kg m-3 as

A=76 U cm-3.

3. The effect of pH control on β-lactamase production was investigated

in the initial pH range of 5.8-8.0, in media with NaH2PO4 - Na2HPO4

buffer, and without buffer (the uncontrolled-pH operation).

Page 118: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

96

Uncontrolled-pH operation was found to be more favorable for β-

lactamase production. Furthermore, the effects of pH and

temperature were investigated in the medium without buffer.

T=37°C, and pH=7.5 were found to be the favorable condition for β-

lactamase production.

4. The effects of glucose concentration on β-lactamase production were

investigated in the range of CG°=6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, and

12.0 kg m-3, in the medium containing 7.1 kg m-3 (NH4)2HPO4 and

the salt solution at a cultivation temperature of T=37°C with an

initial pH of 7.5. The activity of β-lactamase did not change

significantly in this range and CG°=7 kg m-3 was selected as an

initial glucose concentration.

5. As a result of the medium design experiments, the highest β-

lactamase activity was obtained as 115 U cm-3, in the medium

containing 7.0 kg m-3 glucose, 7.1 kg m-3 (NH4)2HPO4, and the salt

solution at pH=7.5, T= 37°C, N=200 min-1, V=33 cm3, which was 2-

fold higher than the activity obtained in the RPM.

6. Using the optimized defined medium, T and pH obtained in the

laboratory scale experiments the effects of oxygen transfer on

fermentation and oxygen transfer characteristics were investigated

in the pilot scale bioreactor system at seven oxygen transfer

conditions. Throughout the bioprocess, dissolved oxygen, pH,

glucose, cell, amino acid and organic acid concentrations, β-

lactamase activity, liquid phase mass transfer coefficient, specific

growth rate, and yield coefficients were determined.

7. Considering the CO profiles, Q0/VR = 0.2 vvm and N =250 min-1

(LimOT) is regarded as “limited-oxygen transfer” condition; Q0/VR =

0.5 vvm and N =250 min-1 (LOT1), and Q0/VR = 0.2 vvm and N

=500 min-1 (LOT2) are regarded as “low-oxygen transfer”

conditions; Q0/VR = 0.5 vvm and N =500 min-1 (MOT1), Q0/VR = 0.2

vvm and N =750 min-1 (MOT2) are regarded as “medium oxygen

transfer” conditions; and lastly Q0/VR = 1 vvm and N =500 min-1

(HOT1) and Q0/VR = 0.5 vvm and N =750 min-1 (HOT2) are regarded

as “high-oxygen transfer” condition.

Page 119: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

97

8. At LimOT and to an extent at LOT1 conditions the CO exhibited

sudden drop at the early hours of the fermentation and at t= 1-27 h

for LimOT and, at t=2-10.5 h for LOT1 the transferred oxygen was

totally consumed. When the OTR was higher, i.e., at LOT2, MOT1,

and MOT2 conditions, a decrease and/or an increase in the dissolved

oxygen level with cultivation time was observed depending on the

metabolic stage of the growth. Further, at HOT1 and HOT2

conditions, although the biomass concentration increased, DO

concentration did not change considerably throughout the

bioprocess as the OTR was high enough.

9. The locus of pH vs time profiles were similar at LOT2, MOT1, MOT2,

HOT1, and HOT2 conditions, and pH has a tendency to decrease until

t=10 h; thereafter, it reached to the stationary phase. However, at

LOT1 and LimOT conditions the decrease rate of pH was higher than

the other conditions. At LimOT condition where the lowest pH was

observed, the pH of the fermentation broth decreased until t= 12 h;

at t=12-19 h it was constant; and after t=19 h pH increased.

10. At all the oxygen transfer conditions applied, glucose concentration

(CG0 = 7.0 kg m-3), decreased with the cultivation time, as expected.

At the end of the bioprocess, the lowest amount of glucose was

attained at LimOT and MOT1 conditions that correspond to the

consumption of %91.5 of the initial glucose.

11. At all the conditions, cell concentration increased at a high rate

between t=2-7 h, and then reached the stationary phase. The

highest cell concentrations were obtained at MOT2 and HOT2

conditions as CX= 0.67 kg m-3 and the lowest cell concentration was

obtained at LimOT and HOT1 as CX= 0.54 kg m-3.

12. Because of the inappropriate oxygen transfer the lowest β-

lactamase activity was obtained at LimOT condition where the

lowest cell concentration was obtained. At MOT1 condition β-

lactamase activity was higher than the other conditions throughout

the process but at t=24 h LOT2 and MOT1 gave all most the same β-

lactamase activity values ca. A=90 U cm-3. In the process the

cultivation time in which the highest β-lactamase activity was

Page 120: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

98

obtained shifted 1.33-fold to an earlier cultivation time (t=24h)

compared to the laboratory scale experiments (t=32h) with a cost

of 22 % lower activity.

13. In general the amino acid concentrations in the fermentation broth

was low and considering all the amino acid profiles and oxygen

transfer conditions, arginine concentration was the highest at LimOT

condition obtained as 0.072 kg m-3 at t=3 h. At all the oxygen

transfer conditions, generally aspartic acid and the asparagine were

the amino acids detected in the broth. The total amino acid

concentration excreted to the fermentation broth was maximum at

LOT2 condition at t=24 h as TOA = 0.133 kg m-3 and minimum at

HOT1 condition at t=20 h as TOA = 0.001 kg m-3.

14. At all the oxygen transfer conditions, acetic acid and lactic acid are

the organic acids detected in the broth at high concentrations. At

LimOT condition at t=11 h lactic acid was excreted having the

concentration of 1.464 kg m-3 which was the highest value obtained

throughout the bioprocess. Moreover, the total organic acid

concentration excreted to the fermentation broth was maximum at

LimOT condition at t=20 h as TOA = 2.513 kg m-3, explaining the

reason of the highest rate of decrease in the medium pH at this

condition. Under the lower range of oxygen transfer conditions,

LimOT and LOT1, due to the insufficient operation of TCA cycle α-

ketoglutaric and succinic acid were excreted to the fermentation

broth.

15. Average KLa, increased with the increase in the agitation and

aeration rates and its values varied between 0.007-0.044 s-1. There

is a fairly good agreement between the experimental and correlated

values for coelescing bubbles (Eq 1-4) given by Moo-Young and

Blanch (1981), within the agitation and air-inlet rate range used.

Because of the dynamic behavior of the fermentation media, KLa

could not be correlated for the entire fermentation process.

Page 121: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

99

16. In general the enhancement factors E were slightly higher than 1.0,

showing that a slow reaction is accompanied by mass transfer and

they did not show a significant difference at the oxygen transfer

conditions applied and changed in the range between E= 1.0-2.1.

17. LimOT, LOT1 and LOT2 conditions, were the mass-transfer limited

conditions (Da>>1). While, at MOT1, MOT2, HOT1, and HOT2

conditions, at=2-8 h mass-transfer resistance was more effective

(Da>>1).

The high effectiveness factor, η, values until t=5 h indicate that the

cells are consuming oxygen with such a high rate that maximum

possible oxygen utilization (OD) value is approached and thereafter

the decrease in η indicates that the cells are consuming lower

oxygen than the oxygen demand (OD).

18. At all the oxygen transfer conditions applied the specific growth

rates decreased in the logarithmic growth phase and at stationary

phase they reached a constant value µ=0 h-1. The maximum specific

growth rate of µmax=1.04 h-1 was obtained at t=1 h at LOT1

condition.

19. The specific substrate consumption rates first decreased and then

increased all the conditions except, LimOT and HOT1 at which they

gradually decreased throughout the fermentation. The highest value

of qS was obtained at t=2 h of LOT1 condition as 2.17 kg kg-1 h-1;

where the lowest value was obtained at t=28 h of LimOT and HOT1

conditions as 0.07 kg kg-1 h-1.

20. The specific oxygen uptake rates decreased throughout the

bioprocess due to the increased cell concentration and gave a

maximum at LimOT condition at t=2 h as q0=0.94 kg kg-1 h-1 and a

minimum at LOT1 condition at t=28 h as q0=0.08 kg kg-1 h-1.

21. In the β-lactamase formation the specific production rate decreased

throughout the process at all the oxygen transfer conditions applied

but at LimOT and LOT1 conditions after t=20 h the specific

Page 122: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

100

production rate again began to increase. The highest value of qp

was obtained at t=0.5 h at LOT2 condition as 69.5*106 U kg-1h-1.

22. The yield of cell on substrate and the yield of cell on oxygen

decreased with the cultivation time at all the oxygen transfer

conditions applied however at LimOT condition they increased

between t=2-5 h. The highest YX/S value was obtained at MOT1

condition at t=2 h as YX/S=0.72 kg kg-1 and the yield of cell on

oxygen reached a maximum, YX/O=1.49 kg kg-1, at t=2 h at MOT1

condition. The yield of substrate on oxygen showed a decrease

and/or an increase throughout the fermentation and gave the

highest value at HOT2 condition at t=20 h as YS/O=8.07 kg kg-1.

Moreover at HOT2 condition the YS/O values increased with the

cultivation time after t=5 h, indicating the increase in the efficiency

of energy metabolism.

23. Because product and by-product formations in the bioprocess for β-

lactamase production are dependent on the oxygen transfer rate,

well-defined perturbations were achieved by the four different

oxygen transfer conditions., i.e., limited-, low-, medium-, and high-

oxygen transfer rates, and an in-depth insight was provided by

applying metabolic flux analysis. The change in the oxygen transfer

rate influenced the fluxes of the central pathways and consequently,

the formation of the key intermediates including the amino acids,

and consequently β-lactamase production throughout the

bioprocess.

24. The only carbon source in the defined medium was glucose that

enters into the carbon mechanism in the glycolysis pathway. The

fluxes through glycolysis pathway were active at all the oxygen

transfer conditions. However, in period I at LimOT and LOT1 and in

period III at MOT1 conditions; and in period III at LOT1 and in period

I at MOT1 conditions the Pyr formation reaction (R14), and in period

II at MOT1 the AcCoA formation reaction (R16) from Pyr and in

period III at LimOT, in period II and IV at LOT1 condition, in period

IV at MOT1 and in period III at HOT2 conditions both R14 and R16

were inactive in the glycolysis pathway. Moreover, the

Page 123: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

101

gluconeogenesis pathway reactions were inactive at all the

conditions.

25. The key intermediate R5P formation was achieved by branching at

F6P through the interconversion reactions since the fluxes from G6P

to both Glc (R2) and Gluc6P (R17) were inactive in period I at

LimOT, in period IV at LOT1, in period II and IV at MOT1 and in

period III at HOT2 conditions. Nevertheless, in period III at LimOT,

in period I, II and III at LOT1, in period I and III at MOT1 and in

period I at HOT2 conditions R5P was produced using the oxidative

reaction.

26. Because NADH and FADH2 are generated in the TCA cycle and

transfer their electrons to the molecular oxygen during the ATP

generation by the oxidative phosphorylation and are then

regenerated in the TCA cycle, the rate of the TCA cycle was strongly

dependent on the oxygen transfer conditions. The successful

operation of TCA cycle was observed in period III at LimOT and

LOT1 conditions and in period IV at MOT1 conditons. The flux of the

anaplerotic reaction either R35 or R36 that connects the TCA cycle

respectively, from either Mal or OA to the gluconeogenesis pathway

via Pyr was influenced by the oxygen transfer rate. In Period II at

LimOT condition Pyr was produced by the reaction R36.

Nevertheless, in period II at LOT1 and MOT1 conditions, the

connection of the TCA cycle to Pyr was achieved via OA through the

reaction R35.

27. The total ATP generation was the highest in period IV at MOT1

condition, while the ATP requirements for the transport,

translocation, and maintenance of the gradients stated in the model

as the hydrolysis of ATP (R147), was the highest at LOT1 condition.

28. The maximum β-lactamase concentration and activity were obtained

experimentally at MOT1 condition; however the metabolic flux

analysis showed that the β-lactamase synthesis flux (R149) was the

highest in Period I at HOT2 condition, in period II at LOT1 condition

and in period IV of MOT1 condition. Amongst the highest β-

lactamase flux was obtained in period IV at MOT1 condition. On the

Page 124: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

102

bases of the results the following oxygen transfer strategy can be

proposed:

In the bioreactor based on the periods of the bioprocess for the

exponentional growth phase the high-oxygen transfer, for the

stationary phase low–oxygen transfer, and for the β-lactamase

synthesis period the medium-oxygen transfer conditions can be

applied to fine tune bioreactor performance.

Page 125: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

103

REFERENCES

Atkinson, B. and Mavituna, F., 1991. Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology

Handbook, 2nd ed., Macmillan Publishers Ltd., England.

Bailey, J.E. and Ollis D.F., 1986. Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, 2nd ed.,

McGraw-Hill Inc., New York.

Bernstein, A., Nickerson, K.W., Day, R.A, 1967. Thermal Penicillinase Expression

and Temperature Dependence of Penicillinase Production Inducible and

Constitutive Strains of Bacillus cereus, Archives of Biochemistry and

Biophysics, 119, 50-54.

Çalık, P., Çalık, G., Özdamar, T.H., 1998. Oxygen Transfer Effects in Serine

Alkaline Protease Fermentation by Bacillus licheniformis: Use of Citric Acid

as the Carbon Source, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 23(7-8), 451-

461.

Çalık, P., Çalık, G., Takaç, S., Özdamar, T.H., 1999. Metabolic Flux Analysis for

Serine Alkaline Protease Fermentation by Bacillus licheniformis in a

Defined Medium: Effects of the Oxygen Transfer Rate, Biotechnology and

Bioengineering, 64, 151-167.

Çalık, P., Çalık, G., Özdamar, T.H., 2000. Oxygen Transfer Strategy and its

Regulation Effects in Serine Alkaline Protease Production by Bacillus

licheniformis, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 69, 301-311.

Çalık, P., Özdamar, T.H., 2001. Effects of Carbon Sources on Metabolic Capacity

of Bacillus Licheniformis for Serine Alkaline Protease, Neutral Protease

and α-Amylase Production, Biochemical Engineering Journal., 8(1), 61-8.

Page 126: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

104

Çalık, P., Özdamar, T.H., 2002. Bioreaction Network Flux Analysis for Industrial

Microorganisms:A Review, Reviews in Chemical Engineering, 18(6), 553-

596.

Çalık, P., Bilir, E., Çalık, G., Özdamar, T. H., 2002. Influence of pH Conditions on

Metabolic Regulations in Serine Alkaline Protease Production, Enzyme and

Microbial Technology, 31(5), 685–697.

Çalık, P., Bilir, E., Çalık, G., Özdamar, T.H., 2003a. Bioreactor Operation

Parameters as Tools for Metabolic Regulations in Fermentation Processes:

Influence of pH Conditions, Chemical Engineering Science, 58, 759-766.

Çalık, P., Tomlin, G., Oliver, S.G., Özdamar, T.H., 2003b. Overexpression of

Serine Alkaline Protease in Bacillus licheniformis and its Impact on the

Metabolic Reaction Network, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 32(6),

706-720.

Çelik, E., 2003. Bioprocess Design Parameters for Beta-Lactamase Production by

Bacillus Species, MS Thesis, METU, Ankara.

Çelik, E., Çalık, P., 2004. Bioprocess Parameters and Oxygen Transfer

Characteristics in β-Lactamase Production by Bacillus Species,

Biotechnology Progress, 20(2), 491-499.

Çalık, P., Tomlin, G., Oliver, S.G., and Özdamar, T.H., 2003. Overexpression of

Serine Alkaline Protease in Bacillus licheniformis and its Impact on the

Metabolic Reaction Network, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 32(6),

706-720.

Cohen, A., 1983. The PICO TAG System: a New Method to Analyze Primary and

Secondary Amino Acids with One Picomole Sensitivity, Biotechniques,

Sept/Oct, 273-275.

Page 127: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

105

Collins, J.R., 1979. The Bacillus licheniformis β-Lactamase System, In: Hamilton-

Miller M.T. and Smith J.T. (ed.), Beta-Lactamases, Academic Press, Inc.,

(London), Ltd., London.

Doran, P.M., 1995. Bioprocess Engineering Principles, Academic Press Ltd., San

Diego.

Faber, K., 2000. Biotransformations in Organic Chemistry, 4th ed., Springer,

Germany.

Godfrey, T. and West, S.,1996. Industrial Enzymology, 2nd ed., Macmillan Press

Ltd., London.

Hemila, H., Pokkinen, M., Palva, I., 1992. Improving the Production of E. coli

Beta-Lactamase in Bacillus subtilis - The Effect of Glucose, Ph and

Temperature on the Production Level, Journal of Biotechnology, 26, 245-

256.

Jacobs, M., 1995. Expression of the Subtilisin Carlsberg-Encoding Gene in

Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis, Gene.; 152, 69-74.

Kuennen, R.W., Simone, M.J., Kreishman, G.P., 1980. The Temperature

Dependence of the Production of Penicillinase in Bacillus cereus 569/H.,

Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics, 7, 659-670.

Kushner, D.J. and Breuil, C., 1977. Archives of Microbiology, 112, 219-223.

Laskin, A.I. and Lechevalier, H.A., 1973. Handbok of Microbiology, volume 1,

CRC Press, USA.

Ledent, P., Duez, C., Vanhove, M., Lejeune, A., Fonze,E., Charlier, P., Rhazi-

Filali, F., Thamm,I., Guillaume,G., Samyn,B., Devreese,B., Van Beeumen,

J., Lamotte-Brasseur, J., Frere, J.M., 1997. Unexpected Influence of a C-

Page 128: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

106

Terminal-Fused His-tag on the Processing of an Enzyme and on the

Kinetic and Folding Parameters, FEBS Lett, 413 (2), 194-196.

Lehninger, A.L., Nelson, D.L., Cox, M.M., 1993. Principles of Biochemistry, 2nd

edition, Worth publishers Inc., New York.

Leisola, M., Jokela, J., Pastinen, O., Turunen, O., Schoemaker, H., 2001.

Industrial Use of Enzymes in UNESCO Encyclopedia of Life Support

Systems.

Matagne, A., Dubus A., Galleni M., Frère, J.M., 1999. The β-lactamase cycle: a

tale of selective pressure and bacterial ingenuity, Nat. Prod. Rep., 16, 1–

19.

Mehta, R.J. and Nash, C.H., 1978. Journal of Antibiotics, 31, 239-240.

Miller, G.L., 1959. Use of Dinitrosalicyclic Acid Reagent for Determination of

Reduced Sugar, Analytical Chemistry, 31, 426-428.

Moses, V. and Cape, R.E., 1991. Biotechnology: The Science and The Business,

Harwood Academic Publishers, Switzerland.

Moser, A., 1988. Bioprocess Technology, Springer-Verlag , New York.

Nielsen, J. and Villadsen, J., 1994. Bioreaction Engineering Principles, Plenum

Press, New York.

Nielsen, J., Pedersen, H., Carlsen, M., 1999. Identification of Enzymes and

Quantification of Metabolic Fluxes in the Wild Type and in a Recombinant

Aspergillus oryzae Strain, Appl. Environ. Microbial, 65, 11-19.

Page 129: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

107

Nielsen, J., Schmidt K, Norregaard, L.C., Pedersen, B., Meissner, A., Duus, J.,

Villadsen, J., 1999. Quantification of Intracellular Metabolic Fluxes from

Fractional Enrichment and 13C-13C Coupling Constraints on the Isotopomer

Distribution in Labeled Biomass Components, Metabolic Eng., 2, 166-179.

Pollock, M.R., 1957. Activity and Specificity of Inducers of Penicillinase

Production in Bacillus cereus, Strain NRRL-569, Biochemical Journal,

66(3), 419-428.

Pollock, M.R., 1960. Penicillinase. In: Boyer P.D., Lardy H., Myrback K., The

Enzymes, 2nd ed., Academic Press, New York.

Pollock M.R., 1965. Purification and Properties of Penicillinases from Two Strains

of Bacillus licheniformis: a Chemical, Physicochemical and Physiological

Comparison, Biochemical Journal, 94, 666-675.

Priest F.G., 1993. Sytematics and Ecology of Bacillus. In: Sonenshein, A.L.,

Hoch, J.A. and Losick, R. (eds.), Bacillus subtilis and Other Gram-Positive

Bacteria: Biochemistry, Phsiology, and Molecular Genetics, American

Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C.

Rainer, B.W., 1990. Determination Methods of the Volumetric Oxygen Transfer

KLa in Bioreactors, Chem. Biochem. Eng. Q., 4(4), 185-186.

Rose, L. M., 1981. Mass Transfer in Gas Liquid Slurry Reactors, Chemical Reactor

Design in Practice, Elsevier, Amsterdam.

Sargantanis, I.G. and Karim, M.N., 1996. Effect of Oxygen Limitation on Beta-

lactamase Production, Biotechnology Progress, 12(6), 786-792.

Sargantanis, I.G. and Karim, M.N., 1998. Adaptive Pole Placement Control

Algorithm for DO-Control in Beta-lactamase Production, Biotechnology

and Bioengineering, 60(1), 1-9.

Page 130: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

108

Sargent, M.G., Ghosh, B.K., Lampen, J.O., 1968. Characteristics of Penicillinase

Release by Washed Cells of Bacillus licheniformis, Journal of Bacteriology,

96(4), 1231-1239.

Shuler, M.L. and Kargi, F., 1992. Bioprocess Engineering: Basic Concepts,

Prentice Hall Inc., New Jersey.

Tang, X., Cai, T., Wang, P.G., 2003. Synthsis of Beta-Lactamses Activated Nitric

Oxide Donors, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 13, 1687-

1690.

Todar, K., 2000. Nutrition and Growth of Bacteria, University of Wisconins-

Madison.

Wase, D.A.J., Patel, Y.R., 1987. Effects of Changes in Agitation Rate on Steady-

State Penicillinase Titers in Continuously-Cultivated Bacillus cereus,

Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 38, 277-282.

White J.S. and White D.C., 1997. Source Book of Enzymes, CRC Press, New

York.

Page 131: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

109

APPENDIX A

Calibration of Bacillus licheniformis Concentration

0.0

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.3

0.4

0.4

0.5

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2

Cx, kg m-3

Abso

rbance

Figure A.1 Calibration curve for Bacillus licheniformis concentration

Slope of the calibration curve, m=2.49 1/kg m-3 (λ=600 nm)

tioDilutionRaAbsorbanceCx ×=49.2

Page 132: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

110

APPENDIX B

Calibration of Beta-Lactamase Activity

y = 1.836xR2 = 0.9993

y = 0.688xR2 = 0.9998

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Cbenzylpenicillin, Cpenicilloic acid (mM)

Abso

rban

ce

Figure A.2 Calibration Curve of the benzylpenicillin and penicilloic acid in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH=7.0, T=30°C, λ=232nm. Benzylpenicillin, (♦); Penicilloic acid, (▲).

One unit of β-lactamase activity was defined as the amount of enzyme that

could hydrolyze 1µmol of benzylpenicillin at 30°C and pH 7.0 in one minute. The

product of the hydrolysis reaction, penicilloic acid, also gives an absorbance at

232nm, therefore, the difference of the slopes is taken, m1-m2=1.148 mM-1. The

activity, U cm-3 is given by (Çelik, 2003),

atioxDilutionRcmlx

mmolUx

mMmmAmC

A A3331

21

10

101

101

)( −−−−

= λ

Page 133: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

111

APPENDIX C

Calibration of Beta-Lactamase Concentration

y = 55432x

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

CB, kg m-3

Are

a

Figure C.1 Calibration curve for beta-lactamase concentration

tioDilutionRaAreaCB ×=55432

Page 134: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

112

APPENDIX D

Calibration of Serine Alkaline Protease Concentration

y = 159690x

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

CSA P , kg m-3

Are

a

Figure D.1 Calibration curve for serine alkaline protease concentration

tioDilutionRaAreaCSAP ×=159690

Page 135: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

113

APPENDIX E

Calibration of Reduced Sugar Concentration

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

CG , kg m-3

Abso

rban

ce

Figure E.3 Calibration Curve of the DNS solution

tioDilutionRaAbsorbanceCG ×

+

=938.3

3394.0

y=3.938x-0.3394

Page 136: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

114

APPENDIX F

Preparation of DNS Solution

1. a) 880 cm3 of 1 % (m/v) DNS solution is prepared by dissolving 8.8 g

dinitrosalisilyc acid in 880 cm3 distilled water.

b) After addition of 225 g ROCHELLE salt (sodium potassium tartarate),

the solution is mixed.

c) 300 cm3 of 4.5 % NaOH, prepared by dissolving 13.5 g NaOH in 300

cm3 distilled water, is added to this solution.

2. a) 22 cm3 10 % NaOH, is prepared by dissolving 2.2 g NaOH in 22 cm3

distilled water.

b) 10 g christalized phenol and 100 cm3 distilled water are added to the

solution.

c) 60 cm3 is taken from this alkali-phenol mixture, 6.9 g NaHCO3 is added

and mixed.

The solution obtained from the first step is mixed with that from the second

step and then they are stirred until ROCHELLE salt is dissolved. The

prepared solution is kept in dark-colored bottle at 4°C and it should be used

after 48 h.

Page 137: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

115

APPENDIX G

Metabolic Reactions for Bacillus licheniformis

Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis Pathway

1. Glc + PEP → G6P + Pyr

2. G6P → Glc + Pi

3. F6P → G6P

4. G6P → F6P

5. Frc + PEP → F6P + Pyr

6. Man + PEP → Man6P + Pyr

7. Man6P → F6P

8. F6P + ATP → 2T3P + ADP

9. 2T3P → F6P + Pi

10. T3P + ADP + Pi → PG3 + ATP + NADH

11. PG3 + ATP + NADH → T3P + ADP + Pi

12. PG3 → PEP

13. PEP → PG3

14. PEP + ADP → Pyr + ATP

15. Pyr + 2ATP → PEP + 2ADP

16. Pyr → AcCoA + CO2 + NADH

Pentose Phosphate Pathway

17. G6P → Gluc6P + NADPH

18. Glc → Gluc + NADH

19. Gluc + ATP → Gluc6P + ADP

20. Gluc6P → R5P + CO2 + NADPH

21. R5P → Xyl5P

22. Xyl5P → R5P

23. R5P → Rib5P

24. Rib5P → R5P

25. Xyl5P + Rib5P → S7P + T3P

26. S7P + T3P → Xyl5P + Rib5P

27. Xyl5P + E4P → F6P + T3P

Page 138: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

116

28. F6P + T3P → Xyl5P + E4P

29. T3P + S7P → F6P + E4P

30. F6P + E4P → T3P + S7P

Branches from Glycolysis

31. Pyr + NADH → Lac

32. Lac → Pyr + NADH

33. AcCoA + ADP + Pi → Ac + ATP

34. Ac + ATP → AcCoA + ADP + Pi

Anapleoric Reactions

35. Mal → Pyr + CO2 + NADPH

36. OA → Pyr + CO2

TCA Cycle

37. AcCoA + OA → Cit

38. Cit → ICit

39. ICit → αKG + CO2 + NADPH

40. αKG → SucCoA + CO2 + NADH

41. SucCoA + Pi + ADP → Suc + ATP + CoA

42. Suc + ATP → SucCoA + ADP + Pi

43. Suc → Fum + FADH2

44. Fum → Mal

45. Mal → OA + NADH

46. ICit → Glx + Suc

47. Glx + AcCoA → Mal

Biosynthesis of Serine Family Amino Acids

48. PG3 + Glu → Ser + αKG + NADH + Pi

49. Ser + THF → Gly + MetTHF

50. Ser + AcCoA + H2S → Cys + Ac

Biosynthesis of Alanine Family Amino Acids

51. Pyr + Glu → Ala + αKG

52. 2Pyr + NADPH → KVal

53. KVal + Glu → Val + αKG

54. KVal + AcCoA + Glu → Leu + αKG + NADH + CO2

Page 139: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

117

Biosynthesis of Histidine

55. R5P + ATP → PRPP + AMP

56. PRPP + ATP + Gln → His + PRAIC + αKG + 2PPi + 2NADH + Pi

Biosynthesis of Aspartic Acid Family Amino Acids

57. OA + Glu → Asp + αKG

58. Asp + Gln + ATP → Asn + Glu + AMP + PPi

59. Asp + ATP + NADPH → AspSa + ADP + Pi

60. AspSa + Pyr → DC

61. DC + NADPH → Tet

62. Tet + AcCoA + Glu → Ac + αKG + mDAP

63. mDAP → Lys + CO2

64. AspSa + NADPH → HSer

65. HSer + ATP → Thr + ADP + Pi

66. Thr + Pyr + NADPH + Glu → Ile + αKG + NH3 + CO2

67. AcCoA + Cys + HSer + H2S + MTHF → Met + Pyr + 2Ac + NH3 + THF

Biosynthesis of Aromatic Amino Acids

68. 2PEP + E4P + ATP + NADPH → Chor + ADP + 4Pi

69. Chor + Glu → Phe + αKG + CO2

70. Chor + Glu → Tyr + αKG + NADH + CO2

71. Chor + NH3 + PRPP → Pyr + IGP + CO2 + PPi

72. IGP + Ser → Trp + T3P

Biosynthesis of Glutamic Acid Family Amino Acids

73. αKG + NH3 + NADPH → Glu

74. Glu + ATP + NH3 → Gln + ADP + Pi

75. Glu + ATP + 2 NADPH → Pro + ADP + Pi

76. 2Glu + AcCoA + ATP + NADPH → Orn + αKG + Ac + ADP + Pi

77. Orn + CaP → Citr + Pi

78. Citr + Asp + ATP → Arg + Fum + AMP + PPi

Catabolism of the amino acids

79. αKG + Ala → Pyr + Glu

80. Arg + αKG → 2Glu + NH3 + NADPH + CO2

81. Asn → Asp + NH3

82. Asp → Fum + NH3

Page 140: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

118

83. Cys → Pyr + NH3 + H2S

84. Gln + αKG + NADPH → 2Glu

85. Gly + MetTHF → Ser + THF

86. His + THF → Glu + MeTHF

87. Ile + αKG → Glu + FADH2 + 2NADH + CO2 + SucCoA + AcCoA

88. Leu + αKG + ATP → Glu + FADH2 + NADH + 2AcCoA + ADP + Pi

89. Phe → Tyr + NADPH

90. Pro → Glu + NADPH

91. Ser → Pyr + NH3

92. Thr → Gly + NADH + AcCoA

93. Trp + NADPH → AcCoA + Ala

94. Tyr + αKG + SucCoA → Glu + Fum + AcCoA + Succ + CO2

95. Val + αKG → Glu + FADH2 + 3NADH + 2CO2 + SucCoA

Biosynthesis of Nucleotides

96. PRPP + 2Gln + Asp + 2H2O + CO2 + Gly + 4ATP + F10THF →

2Glu + PPi + 4ADP + 4Pi + THF + PRAIC + Fum

97. PRAIC + F10THF → IMP + THF

98. IMP + Gln + ATP → NADH + GMP + Glu + AMP + PPi

99. GMP + ATP → GDP + ADP

100. ATP + GDP → ADP + GTP

101. GTP + ADP → ATP + GDP

102. NADPH + ATP → dATP

103. NADPH + GDP + ATP → ADP + dGTP

104. IMP + GTP + Asp → GDP + Pi + Fum + AMP

105. AMP + ATP → 2ADP

106. PRPP + Asp + CaP → UMP + NADH + PPi + Pi + CO2

107. UMP + ATP → UDP + ADP

108. UDP + ATP → ADP + UTP

109. UTP + NH3 + ATP → CTP + ADP + Pi

110. ATP + NADPH + CDP → dCTP + ADP

111. CDP + ATP → CTP + ADP

112. CTP + ADP → CDP + ATP

113. UDP + MetTHF + 2ATP + NADPH → dTTP + DHF + 2ADP + PPi

Biosynthesis and interconversion of one-carbon units

114. DHF + NADPH → THF

Page 141: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

119

115. MetTHF + CO2 + NH3 + NADH → Gly + THF

116. MetTHF + NADPH → MTHF

117. MetTHF → MeTHF + NADPH

118. MeTHF → F10THF

119. Gly + THF → MetTHF + NH3 + NADH + CO2

Transhydrogenation reaction

120. NADH → NADPH

121. NADPH → NADH

Electron Transprt System (P/O=2)

122. NADH + 2ADP + 2Pi → 2ATP

123. FADH2 + ADP + Pi → ATP

Transport Reactions

124. CO2 → exp

125. imp → CO2

126. imp → NH3

127. NH3 → exp

128. 2ATP + 4 NADPH → AMP + ADP + H2S + PPi + Pi

129. PPi → 2Pi

130. imp → Pi

131. Pi → exp

Biosynthesis of Fatty Acids

132. T3P + NADPH → GL3P

133. 7AcCoA + 6ATP + 12NADPH → C14:0 + 6ADP + 6Pi

134. 7AcCoA + 6ATP + 11NADPH → C14:1 + 6ADP + 6Pi

135. 8.2AcCoA + 7.2ATP + 14 NADPH → 7.2PI + 7.2ADP + PA

136. 2ATP + CO2 + Gln → CaP + Glu + 2ADP + Pi

Other Biomass Components

137. F6P + Gln + AcCoA + UTP → UDPNAG + Glu + Ppi

138. PEP + NADPH + UGPNAG → UDPNAM + Pi

139. R5P + PEP + CTP → CMPKDO + PPi + 2Pi

140. Ser + CTP + ATP → CDPEtN + ADP + PPi + CO2

141. S7P + ATP → ADPHep + PPi

142. G6P → G1P

Page 142: EFFECTS OF BIOREACTOR OPERATION …etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605231/index.pdf · iv abstract effects of bioreactor operation parameters on intracellular reaction rate distribution

120

143. G1P → G6P

144. UTP + G1P → UDPGlc + PPi

Biomass Synthesis

145. 0.5352Ala + 0.28Arg + 0.22Asn + 0.22Asp + 0.09Cys + 0.09His +

0.25Gln + 0.25Glu + 0.58Gly + 0.27Ile + 0.42Leu + 0.32Lys + 0.14Met +

0.0593Orn + 0.17Phe + 0.2Pro + 0.377Ser + 0.05Trp + 0.13Tyr + 0.24Thr

+ 0.4Val + 0.2GTP + 0.13UTP + 0.12CTP + 0.22DATP + 0.02DCTP +

0.02DGTP + 0.02DTTP + 0.129GL3P + 0.0235C140 + 0.0235C141 +

0.259PA + 0.0433UDPNAG + 0.0276UDPNAM + 0.0235CMPKDO +

0.0235CDPETN + 0.0157UDPGLC + 0.02354ADPHEP + 0.154G1P +

41.139ATP → Biomass + 41.139ADP + 41.139Pi

Serine Alkaline Protease Synthesis

146. (0.145Ala + 0.0146Arg + 0.0657Asn + 0.0328Asp + 0.0255Gln +

0.0182Glu + 0.127Gly + 0.0182His + 0.0365Ile + 0.0584Leu + 0.0328Lys +

0.0182Met + 0.0146Phe + 0.0365Pro + 0.116Ser + 0.0729Thr + 0.0036Trp

+ 0.0474Tyr + 0.113Val) x 274 + 5.5ATP → SAP + 5.5ADP + 5.5Pi

Maintenance

147. ATP → ADP + Pi

148. Pyr + CO2 → OA

β-Lactamase Synthesis

149. 24Ala + 14Arg + 13Asn + 23Asp + 8Gln + 21Glu + 16Gly + 1His + 14Ile

+ 27Leu + 24Lys + 4Met + 7Phe + 11Pro + 11Ser + 23Thr + 3Trp + 6Tyr +

15Val + 5.5ATP → β-lactamase + 5.5ADP + 5.5Pi